Upload
tmac011
View
111
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Fluid Mechanics
Citation preview
1
I N T R O D U C T I O N A N D B A S I C C O N C E P T S
In this introductory chapter, we present the basic concepts commonly
used in the analysis of fluid flow. We start this chapter with a discussion
of the phases of matter and the numerous ways of classification of fluid
flow, such as viscous versus inviscid regions of flow, internal versus exter-nal flow, compressible versus incompressible flow, laminar versus turbulent flow, natural versus forced flow, and steady versus unsteady flow. We also
discuss the no-slip condition at solid–fluid interfaces and present a brief his-
tory of the development of fluid mechanics.
After presenting the concepts of system and control volume, we review
the unit systems that will be used. We then discuss how mathematical mod-
els for engineering problems are prepared and how to interpret the results
obtained from the analysis of such models. This is followed by a presenta-
tion of an intuitive systematic problem-solving technique that can be used as
a model in solving engineering problems. Finally, we discuss accuracy, pre-
cision, and significant digits in engineering measurements and calculations.
1
1OBJECTIVES
When you finish reading this chapter, you
should be able to
■ Understand the basic concepts
of fluid mechanics
■ Recognize the various types of
fluid flow problems encountered
in practice
■ Model engineering problems
and solve them in a systematic
manner
■ Have a working knowledge
of accuracy, precision, and
significant digits, and recognize
the importance of dimensional
homogeneity in engineering
calculations
Schlieren image showing the thermal plume produced
by Professor Cimbala as he welcomes you to the
fascinating world of fluid mechanics.
Michael J. Hargather and Brent A. Craven, Penn State Gas Dynamics Lab. Used by Permission.
CHAPTER
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 1001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 1 12/14/12 12:12 PM12/14/12 12:12 PM
2INTRODUCTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS
1–1 ■ INTRODUCTIONMechanics is the oldest physical science that deals with both stationary and
moving bodies under the influence of forces. The branch of mechanics that
deals with bodies at rest is called statics, while the branch that deals with
bodies in motion is called dynamics. The subcategory fluid mechanics is
defined as the science that deals with the behavior of fluids at rest (fluid statics) or in motion (fluid dynamics), and the interaction of fluids with
solids or other fluids at the boundaries. Fluid mechanics is also referred to
as fluid dynamics by considering fluids at rest as a special case of motion
with zero velocity (Fig. 1–1).
Fluid mechanics itself is also divided into several categories. The study of
the motion of fluids that can be approximated as incompressible (such as liq-
uids, especially water, and gases at low speeds) is usually referred to as hydro-dynamics. A subcategory of hydrodynamics is hydraulics, which deals with
liquid flows in pipes and open channels. Gas dynamics deals with the flow
of fluids that undergo significant density changes, such as the flow of gases
through nozzles at high speeds. The category aerodynamics deals with the
flow of gases (especially air) over bodies such as aircraft, rockets, and automo-
biles at high or low speeds. Some other specialized categories such as meteo-rology, oceanography, and hydrology deal with naturally occurring flows.
What Is a Fluid?You will recall from physics that a substance exists in three primary phases:
solid, liquid, and gas. (At very high temperatures, it also exists as plasma.)
A substance in the liquid or gas phase is referred to as a fluid. Distinction
between a solid and a fluid is made on the basis of the substance’s abil-
ity to resist an applied shear (or tangential) stress that tends to change its
shape. A solid can resist an applied shear stress by deforming, whereas a fluid deforms continuously under the influence of a shear stress, no matter
how small. In solids, stress is proportional to strain, but in fluids, stress is
proportional to strain rate. When a constant shear force is applied, a solid
eventually stops deforming at some fixed strain angle, whereas a fluid never
stops deforming and approaches a constant rate of strain.
Consider a rectangular rubber block tightly placed between two plates. As
the upper plate is pulled with a force F while the lower plate is held fixed,
the rubber block deforms, as shown in Fig. 1–2. The angle of deformation a
(called the shear strain or angular displacement) increases in proportion to
the applied force F. Assuming there is no slip between the rubber and the
plates, the upper surface of the rubber is displaced by an amount equal to
the displacement of the upper plate while the lower surface remains station-
ary. In equilibrium, the net force acting on the upper plate in the horizontal
direction must be zero, and thus a force equal and opposite to F must be
acting on the plate. This opposing force that develops at the plate–rubber
interface due to friction is expressed as F 5 tA, where t is the shear stress
and A is the contact area between the upper plate and the rubber. When the
force is removed, the rubber returns to its original position. This phenome-
non would also be observed with other solids such as a steel block provided
that the applied force does not exceed the elastic range. If this experiment
were repeated with a fluid (with two large parallel plates placed in a large
body of water, for example), the fluid layer in contact with the upper plate
Contact area,A
Shear stresst = F/A
Shearstrain, a
Force, F
aDeformed
rubber
FIGURE 1–2Deformation of a rubber block placed
between two parallel plates under the
influence of a shear force. The shear
stress shown is that on the rubber—an
equal but opposite shear stress acts on
the upper plate.
FIGURE 1–1Fluid mechanics deals with liquids and
gases in motion or at rest.
© D. Falconer/PhotoLink /Getty RF
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 2001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 2 12/20/12 3:29 PM12/20/12 3:29 PM
3CHAPTER 1
would move with the plate continuously at the velocity of the plate no mat-
ter how small the force F. The fluid velocity would decrease with depth
because of friction between fluid layers, reaching zero at the lower plate.
You will recall from statics that stress is defined as force per unit area
and is determined by dividing the force by the area upon which it acts. The
normal component of a force acting on a surface per unit area is called the
normal stress, and the tangential component of a force acting on a surface
per unit area is called shear stress (Fig. 1–3). In a fluid at rest, the normal
stress is called pressure. A fluid at rest is at a state of zero shear stress.
When the walls are removed or a liquid container is tilted, a shear develops
as the liquid moves to re-establish a horizontal free surface.
In a liquid, groups of molecules can move relative to each other, but the
volume remains relatively constant because of the strong cohesive forces
between the molecules. As a result, a liquid takes the shape of the container it
is in, and it forms a free surface in a larger container in a gravitational field. A
gas, on the other hand, expands until it encounters the walls of the container
and fills the entire available space. This is because the gas molecules are
widely spaced, and the cohesive forces between them are very small. Unlike
liquids, a gas in an open container cannot form a free surface (Fig. 1–4).
Although solids and fluids are easily distinguished in most cases, this dis-
tinction is not so clear in some borderline cases. For example, asphalt appears
and behaves as a solid since it resists shear stress for short periods of time.
When these forces are exerted over extended periods of time, however, the
asphalt deforms slowly, behaving as a fluid. Some plastics, lead, and slurry
mixtures exhibit similar behavior. Such borderline cases are beyond the scope
of this text. The fluids we deal with in this text will be clearly recognizable as
fluids.
Intermolecular bonds are strongest in solids and weakest in gases. One
reason is that molecules in solids are closely packed together, whereas in
gases they are separated by relatively large distances (Fig. 1–5). The mole-
cules in a solid are arranged in a pattern that is repeated throughout. Because
of the small distances between molecules in a solid, the attractive forces of
molecules on each other are large and keep the molecules at fixed positions.
The molecular spacing in the liquid phase is not much different from that of
Free surface
Liquid Gas
^
FIGURE 1–4Unlike a liquid, a gas does not form a
free surface, and it expands to fill the
entire available space.
(a) (b) (c)
FIGURE 1–5The arrangement of atoms in different phases: (a) molecules are at relatively fixed positions
in a solid, (b) groups of molecules move about each other in the liquid phase, and
(c) individual molecules move about at random in the gas phase.
FIGURE 1–3The normal stress and shear stress at
the surface of a fluid element. For
fluids at rest, the shear stress is zero
and pressure is the only normal stress.
Fn
Ft
F
Normalto surface
Tangentto surface
Force actingon area dA
dA
Normal stress: s 5Fn
dA
Shear stress: t 5Ft
dA
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 3001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 3 12/14/12 12:12 PM12/14/12 12:12 PM
4INTRODUCTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS
the solid phase, except the molecules are no longer at fixed positions relative
to each other and they can rotate and translate freely. In a liquid, the inter-
molecular forces are weaker relative to solids, but still strong compared with
gases. The distances between molecules generally increase slightly as a solid
turns liquid, with water being a notable exception.
In the gas phase, the molecules are far apart from each other, and molecu-
lar ordering is nonexistent. Gas molecules move about at random, continu-
ally colliding with each other and the walls of the container in which they
are confined. Particularly at low densities, the intermolecular forces are very
small, and collisions are the only mode of interaction between the mole-
cules. Molecules in the gas phase are at a considerably higher energy level
than they are in the liquid or solid phase. Therefore, the gas must release a
large amount of its energy before it can condense or freeze.
Gas and vapor are often used as synonymous words. The vapor phase of
a substance is customarily called a gas when it is above the critical tempera-
ture. Vapor usually implies that the current phase is not far from a state of
condensation.
Any practical fluid system consists of a large number of molecules, and the
properties of the system naturally depend on the behavior of these molecules.
For example, the pressure of a gas in a container is the result of momentum
transfer between the molecules and the walls of the container. However, one
does not need to know the behavior of the gas molecules to determine the pres-
sure in the container. It is sufficient to attach a pressure gage to the container
(Fig. 1–6). This macroscopic or classical approach does not require a knowl-
edge of the behavior of individual molecules and provides a direct and easy
way to analyze engineering problems. The more elaborate microscopic or sta-tistical approach, based on the average behavior of large groups of individual
molecules, is rather involved and is used in this text only in a supporting role.
Application Areas of Fluid MechanicsIt is important to develop a good understanding of the basic principles of
fluid mechanics, since fluid mechanics is widely used both in everyday
activities and in the design of modern engineering systems from vacuum
cleaners to supersonic aircraft. For example, fluid mechanics plays a vital
role in the human body. The heart is constantly pumping blood to all parts
of the human body through the arteries and veins, and the lungs are the sites
of airflow in alternating directions. All artificial hearts, breathing machines,
and dialysis systems are designed using fluid dynamics (Fig. 1–7).
An ordinary house is, in some respects, an exhibition hall filled with appli-
cations of fluid mechanics. The piping systems for water, natural gas, and
sewage for an individual house and the entire city are designed primarily on
the basis of fluid mechanics. The same is also true for the piping and ducting
network of heating and air-conditioning systems. A refrigerator involves tubes
through which the refrigerant flows, a compressor that pressurizes the refrig-
erant, and two heat exchangers where the refrigerant absorbs and rejects heat.
Fluid mechanics plays a major role in the design of all these components.
Even the operation of ordinary faucets is based on fluid mechanics.
We can also see numerous applications of fluid mechanics in an automo-
bile. All components associated with the transportation of the fuel from the
fuel tank to the cylinders—the fuel line, fuel pump, and fuel injectors or
Pressuregage
FIGURE 1–6On a microscopic scale, pressure
is determined by the interaction of
individual gas molecules. However,
we can measure the pressure on a
macroscopic scale with a pressure
gage.
FIGURE 1–7Fluid dynamics is used extensively in
the design of artificial hearts. Shown
here is the Penn State Electric Total
Artificial Heart.
Photo courtesy of the Biomedical Photography Lab, Penn State Biomedical Engineering Institute. Used by Permission.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 4001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 4 12/14/12 12:12 PM12/14/12 12:12 PM
5CHAPTER 1
carburetors—as well as the mixing of the fuel and the air in the cylinders
and the purging of combustion gases in exhaust pipes—are analyzed using
fluid mechanics. Fluid mechanics is also used in the design of the heating
and air-conditioning system, the hydraulic brakes, the power steering, the
automatic transmission, the lubrication systems, the cooling system of the
engine block including the radiator and the water pump, and even the tires.
The sleek streamlined shape of recent model cars is the result of efforts to
minimize drag by using extensive analysis of flow over surfaces.
On a broader scale, fluid mechanics plays a major part in the design and
analysis of aircraft, boats, submarines, rockets, jet engines, wind turbines,
biomedical devices, cooling systems for electronic components, and trans-
portation systems for moving water, crude oil, and natural gas. It is also
considered in the design of buildings, bridges, and even billboards to make
sure that the structures can withstand wind loading. Numerous natural phe-
nomena such as the rain cycle, weather patterns, the rise of ground water to
the tops of trees, winds, ocean waves, and currents in large water bodies are
also governed by the principles of fluid mechanics (Fig. 1–8).
FIGURE 1–8Some application areas of fluid mechanics.
Cars
© Mark Evans/Getty RFPower plants
© Malcom Fife/Getty RFHuman body
© Ryan McVay/Getty RF
Piping and plumbing systems
Photo by John M. Cimbala.Wind turbines
© F. Schussler/PhotoLink/Getty RFIndustrial applications
Digital Vision/PunchStock
Aircraft and spacecraft
© Photo Link/Getty RFNatural flows and weather
© Glen Allison/Betty RFBoats
© Doug Menuez/Getty RF
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 5001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 5 12/21/12 1:41 PM12/21/12 1:41 PM
6INTRODUCTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS
1–2 ■ A BRIEF HISTORY OF FLUID MECHANICS1
One of the first engineering problems humankind faced as cities were devel-
oped was the supply of water for domestic use and irrigation of crops. Our
urban lifestyles can be retained only with abundant water, and it is clear
from archeology that every successful civilization of prehistory invested in
the construction and maintenance of water systems. The Roman aqueducts,
some of which are still in use, are the best known examples. However, per-
haps the most impressive engineering from a technical viewpoint was done
at the Hellenistic city of Pergamon in present-day Turkey. There, from 283 to
133 bc, they built a series of pressurized lead and clay pipelines (Fig. 1–9),
up to 45 km long that operated at pressures exceeding 1.7 MPa (180 m of
head). Unfortunately, the names of almost all these early builders are lost to
history.
The earliest recognized contribution to fluid mechanics theory was made
by the Greek mathematician Archimedes (285–212 bc). He formulated and
applied the buoyancy principle in history’s first nondestructive test to deter-
mine the gold content of the crown of King Hiero I. The Romans built great
aqueducts and educated many conquered people on the benefits of clean
water, but overall had a poor understanding of fluids theory. (Perhaps they
shouldn’t have killed Archimedes when they sacked Syracuse.)
During the Middle Ages, the application of fluid machinery slowly but
steadily expanded. Elegant piston pumps were developed for dewatering
mines, and the watermill and windmill were perfected to grind grain, forge
metal, and for other tasks. For the first time in recorded human history, sig-
nificant work was being done without the power of a muscle supplied by a
person or animal, and these inventions are generally credited with enabling
the later industrial revolution. Again the creators of most of the progress
are unknown, but the devices themselves were well documented by several
technical writers such as Georgius Agricola (Fig. 1–10).
The Renaissance brought continued development of fluid systems and
machines, but more importantly, the scientific method was perfected and
adopted throughout Europe. Simon Stevin (1548–1617), Galileo Galilei
(1564–1642), Edme Mariotte (1620–1684), and Evangelista Torricelli
(1608–1647) were among the first to apply the method to fluids as they
investigated hydrostatic pressure distributions and vacuums. That work was
integrated and refined by the brilliant mathematician and philosopher, Blaise
Pascal (1623–1662). The Italian monk, Benedetto Castelli (1577–1644) was
the first person to publish a statement of the continuity principle for flu-
ids. Besides formulating his equations of motion for solids, Sir Isaac New-
ton (1643–1727) applied his laws to fluids and explored fluid inertia and
resistance, free jets, and viscosity. That effort was built upon by Daniel
Bernoulli (1700–1782), a Swiss, and his associate Leonard Euler (1707–
1783). Together, their work defined the energy and momentum equations.
Bernoulli’s 1738 classic treatise Hydrodynamica may be considered the first
fluid mechanics text. Finally, Jean d’Alembert (1717–1789) developed the
idea of velocity and acceleration components, a differential expression of
1 This section is contributed by Professor Glenn Brown of Oklahoma State University.
FIGURE 1–9Segment of Pergamon pipeline.
Each clay pipe section was
13 to 18 cm in diameter.
Courtesy Gunther Garbrecht. Used by permission.
FIGURE 1–10A mine hoist powered
by a reversible water wheel.
G. Agricola, De Re Metalica, Basel, 1556.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 6001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 6 12/14/12 12:13 PM12/14/12 12:13 PM
7CHAPTER 1
continuity, and his “paradox” of zero resistance to steady uniform motion
over a body.
The development of fluid mechanics theory through the end of the eigh-
teenth century had little impact on engineering since fluid properties and
parameters were poorly quantified, and most theories were abstractions that
could not be quantified for design purposes. That was to change with the
development of the French school of engineering led by Riche de Prony
(1755–1839). Prony (still known for his brake to measure shaft power) and
his associates in Paris at the École Polytechnique and the École des Ponts
et Chaussées were the first to integrate calculus and scientific theory into
the engineering curriculum, which became the model for the rest of the
world. (So now you know whom to blame for your painful freshman year.)
Antonie Chezy (1718–1798), Louis Navier (1785–1836), Gaspard Coriolis
(1792–1843), Henry Darcy (1803–1858), and many other contributors to
fluid engineering and theory were students and/or instructors at the schools.
By the mid nineteenth century, fundamental advances were coming on
several fronts. The physician Jean Poiseuille (1799–1869) had accurately
measured flow in capillary tubes for multiple fluids, while in Germany
Gotthilf Hagen (1797–1884) had differentiated between laminar and turbu-
lent flow in pipes. In England, Lord Osborne Reynolds (1842–1912) con-
tinued that work (Fig. 1–11) and developed the dimensionless number that
bears his name. Similarly, in parallel to the early work of Navier, George
Stokes (1819–1903) completed the general equation of fluid motion (with
friction) that takes their names. William Froude (1810–1879) almost single-
handedly developed the procedures and proved the value of physical model
testing. American expertise had become equal to the Europeans as demon-
strated by James Francis’ (1815–1892) and Lester Pelton’s (1829–1908)
pioneering work in turbines and Clemens Herschel’s (1842–1930) invention
of the Venturi meter.
In addition to Reynolds and Stokes, many notable contributions were made
to fluid theory in the late nineteenth century by Irish and English scientists,
including William Thomson, Lord Kelvin (1824–1907), William Strutt, Lord
Rayleigh (1842–1919), and Sir Horace Lamb (1849–1934). These individu-
als investigated a large number of problems, including dimensional analysis,
irrotational flow, vortex motion, cavitation, and waves. In a broader sense,
FIGURE 1–11Osborne Reynolds’ original apparatus
for demonstrating the onset of turbu-
lence in pipes, being operated
by John Lienhard at the University
of Manchester in 1975.
Photo courtesy of John Lienhard, University of Houston. Used by permission.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 7001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 7 12/21/12 4:45 PM12/21/12 4:45 PM
8INTRODUCTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS
their work also explored the links between fluid mechanics, thermodynam-
ics, and heat transfer.
The dawn of the twentieth century brought two monumental developments.
First, in 1903, the self-taught Wright brothers (Wilbur, 1867–1912; Orville,
1871–1948) invented the airplane through application of theory and deter-
mined experimentation. Their primitive invention was complete and contained
all the major aspects of modern aircraft (Fig. 1–12). The Navier–Stokes equa-
tions were of little use up to this time because they were too difficult to solve.
In a pioneering paper in 1904, the German Ludwig Prandtl (1875–1953)
showed that fluid flows can be divided into a layer near the walls, the bound-ary layer, where the friction effects are significant, and an outer layer where
such effects are negligible and the simplified Euler and Bernoulli equations
are applicable. His students, Theodor von Kármán (1881–1963), Paul Blasius
(1883–1970), Johann Nikuradse (1894–1979), and others, built on that theory
in both hydraulic and aerodynamic applications. (During World War II, both
sides benefited from the theory as Prandtl remained in Germany while his
best student, the Hungarian-born von Kármán, worked in America.)
The mid twentieth century could be considered a golden age of fluid
mechanics applications. Existing theories were adequate for the tasks at
hand, and fluid properties and parameters were well defined. These sup-
ported a huge expansion of the aeronautical, chemical, industrial, and
water resources sectors; each of which pushed fluid mechanics in new
directions. Fluid mechanics research and work in the late twentieth century
were dominated by the development of the digital computer in America.
The ability to solve large complex problems, such as global climate mod-
eling or the optimization of a turbine blade, has provided a benefit to our
society that the eighteenth-century developers of fluid mechanics could
never have imagined (Fig. 1–13). The principles presented in the following
pages have been applied to flows ranging from a moment at the micro-
scopic scale to 50 years of simulation for an entire river basin. It is truly
mind-boggling.
Where will fluid mechanics go in the twenty-first century and beyond?
Frankly, even a limited extrapolation beyond the present would be sheer folly.
However, if history tells us anything, it is that engineers will be applying
what they know to benefit society, researching what they don’t know, and
having a great time in the process.
1–3 ■ THE NO-SLIP CONDITIONFluid flow is often confined by solid surfaces, and it is important to under-
stand how the presence of solid surfaces affects fluid flow. We know that
water in a river cannot flow through large rocks, and must go around them.
That is, the water velocity normal to the rock surface must be zero, and
water approaching the surface normally comes to a complete stop at the sur-
face. What is not as obvious is that water approaching the rock at any angle
also comes to a complete stop at the rock surface, and thus the tangential
velocity of water at the surface is also zero.
Consider the flow of a fluid in a stationary pipe or over a solid surface
that is nonporous (i.e., impermeable to the fluid). All experimental observa-
tions indicate that a fluid in motion comes to a complete stop at the surface
FIGURE 1–12The Wright brothers take
flight at Kitty Hawk.
Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division [LC-DIG-ppprs-00626]
FIGURE 1–13Old and new wind turbine technologies
north of Woodward, OK. The modern
turbines have 1.6 MW capacities.
Photo courtesy of the Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative. Used by permission.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 8001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 8 12/14/12 12:13 PM12/14/12 12:13 PM
9CHAPTER 1
and assumes a zero velocity relative to the surface. That is, a fluid in direct
contact with a solid “sticks” to the surface, and there is no slip. This is
known as the no-slip condition. The fluid property responsible for the no-
slip condition and the development of the boundary layer is viscosity and is
discussed in Chap. 2.
The photograph in Fig. 1–14 clearly shows the evolution of a velocity
gradient as a result of the fluid sticking to the surface of a blunt nose. The
layer that sticks to the surface slows the adjacent fluid layer because of vis-
cous forces between the fluid layers, which slows the next layer, and so
on. A consequence of the no-slip condition is that all velocity profiles must
have zero values with respect to the surface at the points of contact between
a fluid and a solid surface (Fig. 1–15). Therefore, the no-slip condition is
responsible for the development of the velocity profile. The flow region
adjacent to the wall in which the viscous effects (and thus the velocity gra-
dients) are significant is called the boundary layer. Another consequence
of the no-slip condition is the surface drag, or skin friction drag, which is
the force a fluid exerts on a surface in the flow direction.
When a fluid is forced to flow over a curved surface, such as the back
side of a cylinder, the boundary layer may no longer remain attached to the
sur face and separates from the surface—a process called flow separation
(Fig. 1–16). We emphasize that the no-slip condition applies everywhere
along the surface, even downstream of the separation point. Flow separation
is discussed in greater detail in Chap. 9.
A phenomenon similar to the no-slip condition occurs in heat transfer.
When two bodies at different temperatures are brought into contact, heat
transfer occurs such that both bodies assume the same temperature at the
points of contact. Therefore, a fluid and a solid surface have the same tem-
perature at the points of contact. This is known as no-temperature-jump condition.
1–4 ■ CLASSIFICATION OF FLUID FLOWSEarlier we defined fluid mechanics as the science that deals with the behav-
ior of fluids at rest or in motion, and the interaction of fluids with solids or
other fluids at the boundaries. There is a wide variety of fluid flow prob-
lems encountered in practice, and it is usually convenient to classify them
on the basis of some common characteristics to make it feasible to study
them in groups. There are many ways to classify fluid flow problems, and
here we present some general categories.
FIGURE 1–14The development of a velocity profile
due to the no-slip condition as a fluid
flows over a blunt nose.
“Hunter Rouse: Laminar and Turbulent Flow Film.” Copyright IIHR-Hydroscience & Engineering, The University of Iowa. Used by permission.
Relativevelocitiesof fluid layers
Uniformapproachvelocity, V
Zero velocityat the surface
Plate
FIGURE 1–15A fluid flowing over a stationary
surface comes to a complete stop at
the surface because of the no-slip
condition.
Separation point
FIGURE 1–16Flow separation during flow over a curved surface.
From G. M. Homsy et al, “Multi-Media Fluid Mechanics,” Cambridge Univ. Press (2001). ISBN 0-521-78748-3. Reprinted by permission.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 9001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 9 12/14/12 12:13 PM12/14/12 12:13 PM
10INTRODUCTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS
Viscous versus Inviscid Regions of FlowWhen two fluid layers move relative to each other, a friction force devel-
ops between them and the slower layer tries to slow down the faster layer.
This internal resistance to flow is quantified by the fluid property viscosity,
which is a measure of internal stickiness of the fluid. Viscosity is caused by
cohesive forces between the molecules in liquids and by molecular colli-
sions in gases. There is no fluid with zero viscosity, and thus all fluid flows
involve viscous effects to some degree. Flows in which the frictional effects
are significant are called viscous flows. However, in many flows of practi-
cal interest, there are regions (typically regions not close to solid surfaces)
where viscous forces are negligibly small compared to inertial or pressure
forces. Neglecting the viscous terms in such inviscid flow regions greatly
simplifies the analysis without much loss in accuracy.
The development of viscous and inviscid regions of flow as a result of
inserting a flat plate parallel into a fluid stream of uniform velocity is shown
in Fig. 1–17. The fluid sticks to the plate on both sides because of the no-slip
condition, and the thin boundary layer in which the viscous effects are signifi-
cant near the plate surface is the viscous flow region. The region of flow on
both sides away from the plate and largely unaffected by the presence of the
plate is the inviscid flow region.
Internal versus External FlowA fluid flow is classified as being internal or external, depending on whether
the fluid flows in a confined space or over a surface. The flow of an
unbounded fluid over a surface such as a plate, a wire, or a pipe is external flow. The flow in a pipe or duct is internal flow if the fluid is completely
bounded by solid surfaces. Water flow in a pipe, for example, is internal flow,
and airflow over a ball or over an exposed pipe during a windy day is external
flow (Fig. 1–18). The flow of liquids in a duct is called open-channel flow if
the duct is only partially filled with the liquid and there is a free surface. The
flows of water in rivers and irrigation ditches are examples of such flows.
Internal flows are dominated by the influence of viscosity throughout the
flow field. In external flows the viscous effects are limited to boundary lay-
ers near solid surfaces and to wake regions downstream of bodies.
Compressible versus Incompressible FlowA flow is classified as being compressible or incompressible, depending
on the level of variation of density during flow. Incompressibility is an
approximation, in which the flow is said to be incompressible if the density
remains nearly constant throughout. Therefore, the volume of every portion
of fluid remains unchanged over the course of its motion when the flow is
approximated as incompressible.
The densities of liquids are essentially constant, and thus the flow of liq-
uids is typically incompressible. Therefore, liquids are usually referred to as
incompressible substances. A pressure of 210 atm, for example, causes the
density of liquid water at 1 atm to change by just 1 percent. Gases, on the
other hand, are highly compressible. A pressure change of just 0.01 atm, for
example, causes a change of 1 percent in the density of atmospheric air.
FIGURE 1–18External flow over a tennis ball, and
the turbulent wake region behind.
Courtesy NASA and Cislunar Aerospace, Inc.
Inviscid flowregion
Viscous flow
region
Inviscid flowregion
FIGURE 1–17The flow of an originally uniform
fluid stream over a flat plate, and
the regions of viscous flow (next to
the plate on both sides) and inviscid
flow (away from the plate).
Fundamentals of Boundary Layers, National Committee from Fluid Mechanics Films, © Education Development Center.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 10001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 10 12/14/12 12:13 PM12/14/12 12:13 PM
11CHAPTER 1
When analyzing rockets, spacecraft, and other systems that involve high-
speed gas flows (Fig. 1–19), the flow speed is often expressed in terms of
the dimensionless Mach number defined as
Ma 5Vc
5Speed of flow
Speed of sound
where c is the speed of sound whose value is 346 m/s in air at room tempera-
ture at sea level. A flow is called sonic when Ma 5 1, subsonic when Ma , 1,
supersonic when Ma . 1, and hypersonic when Ma .. 1. Dimensionless
parameters are discussed in detail in Chapter 7.
Liquid flows are incompressible to a high level of accuracy, but the level
of variation of density in gas flows and the consequent level of approxi-
mation made when modeling gas flows as incompressible depends on the
Mach number. Gas flows can often be approximated as incompressible if
the density changes are under about 5 percent, which is usually the case
when Ma , 0.3. Therefore, the compressibility effects of air at room tem-
perature can be neglected at speeds under about 100 m/s.
Small density changes of liquids corresponding to large pressure changes
can still have important consequences. The irritating “water hammer” in a
water pipe, for example, is caused by the vibrations of the pipe generated by
the reflection of pressure waves following the sudden closing of the valves.
Laminar versus Turbulent FlowSome flows are smooth and orderly while others are rather chaotic. The
highly ordered fluid motion characterized by smooth layers of fluid is called
laminar. The word laminar comes from the movement of adjacent fluid
particles together in “laminae.” The flow of high-viscosity fluids such as
oils at low velocities is typically laminar. The highly disordered fluid motion
that typically occurs at high velocities and is characterized by velocity fluc-
tuations is called turbulent (Fig. 1–20). The flow of low-viscosity fluids
such as air at high velocities is typically turbulent. A flow that alternates
between being laminar and turbulent is called transitional. The experiments
conducted by Osborne Reynolds in the 1880s resulted in the establishment
of the dimensionless Reynolds number, Re, as the key parameter for the
determination of the flow regime in pipes (Chap. 8).
Natural (or Unforced) versus Forced FlowA fluid flow is said to be natural or forced, depending on how the fluid
motion is initiated. In forced flow, a fluid is forced to flow over a surface
or in a pipe by external means such as a pump or a fan. In natural flows, fluid motion is due to natural means such as the buoyancy effect, which
manifests itself as the rise of warmer (and thus lighter) fluid and the fall of
cooler (and thus denser) fluid (Fig. 1–21). In solar hot-water systems, for
example, the thermosiphoning effect is commonly used to replace pumps by
placing the water tank sufficiently above the solar collectors.
Laminar
Transitional
Turbulent
FIGURE 1–20Laminar, transitional, and turbulent
flows over a flat plate.
Courtesy ONERA, photograph by Werlé.
FIGURE 1–19Schlieren image of the spherical shock
wave produced by a bursting ballon
at the Penn State Gas Dynamics Lab.
Several secondary shocks are seen in
the air surrounding the ballon.
Photo by G. S. Settles, Penn State University. Used by permission.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 11001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 11 12/14/12 12:13 PM12/14/12 12:13 PM
12INTRODUCTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS
Steady versus Unsteady FlowThe terms steady and uniform are used frequently in engineering, and thus
it is important to have a clear understanding of their meanings. The term
steady implies no change of properties, velocity, temperature, etc., at a point with time. The opposite of steady is unsteady. The term uniform implies no change with location over a specified region. These meanings are consistent
with their everyday use (steady girlfriend, uniform distribution, etc.).
The terms unsteady and transient are often used interchangeably, but these
terms are not synonyms. In fluid mechanics, unsteady is the most general term
that applies to any flow that is not steady, but transient is typically used for
developing flows. When a rocket engine is fired up, for example, there are tran-
sient effects (the pressure builds up inside the rocket engine, the flow accelerates,
etc.) until the engine settles down and operates steadily. The term periodic refers
to the kind of unsteady flow in which the flow oscillates about a steady mean.
Many devices such as turbines, compressors, boilers, condensers, and heat
exchangers operate for long periods of time under the same conditions, and they
are classified as steady-flow devices. (Note that the flow field near the rotating
blades of a turbomachine is of course unsteady, but we consider the overall
flow field rather than the details at some localities when we classify devices.)
During steady flow, the fluid properties can change from point to point within
a device, but at any fixed point they remain constant. Therefore, the volume,
the mass, and the total energy content of a steady-flow device or flow section
remain constant in steady operation. A simple analogy is shown in Fig. 1–22.
Steady-flow conditions can be closely approximated by devices that are
intended for continuous operation such as turbines, pumps, boilers, con-
densers, and heat exchangers of power plants or refrigeration systems. Some
cyclic devices, such as reciprocating engines or compressors, do not sat-
isfy the steady-flow conditions since the flow at the inlets and the exits is
FIGURE 1–21In this schlieren image of a girl in
a swimming suit, the rise of lighter,
warmer air adjacent to her body
indicates that humans and warm-
blooded animals are surrounded by
thermal plumes of rising warm air.
G. S. Settles, Gas Dynamics Lab, Penn State University. Used by permission.
FIGURE 1–22Comparison of (a) instantaneous
snapshot of an unsteady flow, and
(b) long exposure picture of the
same flow.
Photos by Eric A. Paterson. Used by permission. (a) (b)
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 12001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 12 12/21/12 1:42 PM12/21/12 1:42 PM
13CHAPTER 1
pulsating and not steady. However, the fluid properties vary with time in a
periodic manner, and the flow through these devices can still be analyzed as
a steady-flow process by using time-averaged values for the properties.
Some fascinating visualizations of fluid flow are provided in the book An Album of Fluid Motion by Milton Van Dyke (1982). A nice illustration of
an unsteady-flow field is shown in Fig. 1–23, taken from Van Dyke’s book.
Figure 1–23a is an instantaneous snapshot from a high-speed motion picture; it
reveals large, alternating, swirling, turbulent eddies that are shed into the peri-
odically oscillating wake from the blunt base of the object. The eddies produce
shock waves that move upstream alternately over the top and bottom surfaces
of the airfoil in an unsteady fashion. Figure 1–23b shows the same flow field,
but the film is exposed for a longer time so that the image is time averaged
over 12 cycles. The resulting time-averaged flow field appears “steady” since
the details of the unsteady oscillations have been lost in the long exposure.
One of the most important jobs of an engineer is to determine whether it is
sufficient to study only the time-averaged “steady” flow features of a problem,
or whether a more detailed study of the unsteady features is required. If the
engineer were interested only in the overall properties of the flow field (such
as the time-averaged drag coefficient, the mean velocity, and pressure fields), a
time-averaged description like that of Fig. 1–23b, time-averaged experimental
measurements, or an analytical or numerical calculation of the time-averaged
flow field would be sufficient. However, if the engineer were interested in details
about the unsteady-flow field, such as flow-induced vibrations, unsteady pres-
sure fluctuations, or the sound waves emitted from the turbulent eddies or the
shock waves, a time-averaged description of the flow field would be insufficient.
Most of the analytical and computational examples provided in this text-
book deal with steady or time-averaged flows, although we occasionally
point out some relevant unsteady-flow features as well when appropriate.
One-, Two-, and Three-Dimensional FlowsA flow field is best characterized by its velocity distribution, and thus a flow
is said to be one-, two-, or three-dimensional if the flow velocity varies in
one, two, or three primary dimensions, respectively. A typical fluid flow
involves a three-dimensional geometry, and the velocity may vary in all three
dimensions, rendering the flow three-dimensional [V!(x, y, z) in rectangular
or V!(r, u, z) in cylindrical coordinates]. However, the variation of velocity in
certain directions can be small relative to the variation in other directions and
can be ignored with negligible error. In such cases, the flow can be modeled
conveniently as being one- or two-dimensional, which is easier to analyze.
Consider steady flow of a fluid entering from a large tank into a circular
pipe. The fluid velocity everywhere on the pipe surface is zero because of the
no-slip condition, and the flow is two-dimensional in the entrance region of
the pipe since the velocity changes in both the r- and z-directions, but not in
the u-direction. The velocity profile develops fully and remains unchanged after
some distance from the inlet (about 10 pipe diameters in turbulent flow, and
less in laminar pipe flow, as in Fig. 1–24), and the flow in this region is said
to be fully developed. The fully developed flow in a circular pipe is one-dimen-sional since the velocity varies in the radial r-direction but not in the angular
u- or axial z-directions, as shown in Fig. 1–24. That is, the velocity profile is
the same at any axial z-location, and it is symmetric about the axis of the pipe.
(a)
(b)
FIGURE 1–23Oscillating wake of a blunt-based
airfoil at Mach number 0.6. Photo (a)
is an instantaneous image, while
photo (b) is a long-exposure
(time-averaged) image.
(a) Dyment, A., Flodrops, J. P. & Gryson, P. 1982 in Flow Visualization II, W. Merzkirch, ed., 331–
336. Washington: Hemisphere. Used by permission of Arthur Dyment.
(b) Dyment, A. & Gryson, P. 1978 in Inst. Mèc.
Fluides Lille, No. 78-5. Used by permission of Arthur Dyment.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 13001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 13 12/14/12 12:13 PM12/14/12 12:13 PM
14INTRODUCTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS
Note that the dimensionality of the flow also depends on the choice of coor-
dinate system and its orientation. The pipe flow discussed, for example, is
one-dimensional in cylindrical coordinates, but two-dimensional in Cartesian
coordinates—illustrating the importance of choosing the most appropriate
coordinate system. Also note that even in this simple flow, the velocity cannot
be uniform across the cross section of the pipe because of the no-slip condi-
tion. However, at a well-rounded entrance to the pipe, the velocity profile may
be approximated as being nearly uniform across the pipe, since the velocity is
nearly constant at all radii except very close to the pipe wall.
A flow may be approximated as two-dimensional when the aspect ratio is
large and the flow does not change appreciably along the longer dimension. For
example, the flow of air over a car antenna can be considered two-dimensional
except near its ends since the antenna’s length is much greater than its diam-
eter, and the airflow hitting the antenna is fairly uniform (Fig. 1–25).
EXAMPLE 1–1 Axisymmetric Flow over a Bullet
Consider a bullet piercing through calm air during a short time interval in which
the bullet’s speed is nearly constant. Determine if the time-averaged airflow
over the bullet during its flight is one-, two-, or three-dimensional (Fig. 1–26).
SOLUTION It is to be determined whether airflow over a bullet is one-, two-,
or three-dimensional.
Assumptions There are no significant winds and the bullet is not spinning.
Analysis The bullet possesses an axis of symmetry and is therefore an axi-
symmetric body. The airflow upstream of the bullet is parallel to this axis,
and we expect the time-averaged airflow to be rotationally symmetric about
the axis—such flows are said to be axisymmetric. The velocity in this case
varies with axial distance z and radial distance r, but not with angle u. There-
fore, the time-averaged airflow over the bullet is two-dimensional.Discussion While the time-averaged airflow is axisymmetric, the instantaneous
airflow is not, as illustrated in Fig. 1–23. In Cartesian coordinates, the flow
would be three-dimensional. Finally, many bullets also spin.
1–5 ■ SYSTEM AND CONTROL VOLUMEA system is defined as a quantity of matter or a region in space chosen for study. The mass or region outside the system is called the surroundings. The real or imaginary surface that separates the system from its surround-
ings is called the boundary (Fig. 1–27). The boundary of a system can be
SURROUNDINGS
BOUNDARY
SYSTEM
FIGURE 1–27System, surroundings, and boundary.
FIGURE 1–25Flow over a car antenna is
approximately two-dimensional
except near the top and bottom
of the antenna.
Axis ofsymmetry
r
zu
FIGURE 1–26Axisymmetric flow over a bullet.
z
r
Developing velocity
profile, V(r, z)
Fully developed
velocity profile, V(r)FIGURE 1–24The development of the velocity
profile in a circular pipe. V 5 V(r, z)
and thus the flow is two-dimensional
in the entrance region, and becomes
one-dimensional downstream when
the velocity profile fully develops
and remains unchanged in the flow
direction, V 5 V(r).
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 14001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 14 12/14/12 12:14 PM12/14/12 12:14 PM
15CHAPTER 1
fixed or movable. Note that the boundary is the contact surface shared by
both the system and the surroundings. Mathematically speaking, the bound-
ary has zero thickness, and thus it can neither contain any mass nor occupy
any volume in space.
Systems may be considered to be closed or open, depending on whether
a fixed mass or a volume in space is chosen for study. A closed system
(also known as a control mass or simply a system when the context makes
it clear) consists of a fixed amount of mass, and no mass can cross its
boundary. But energy, in the form of heat or work, can cross the boundary,
and the volume of a closed system does not have to be fixed. If, as a special
case, even energy is not allowed to cross the boundary, that system is called
an isolated system. Consider the piston–cylinder device shown in Fig. 1–28. Let us say that
we would like to find out what happens to the enclosed gas when it is
heated. Since we are focusing our attention on the gas, it is our system. The
inner surfaces of the piston and the cylinder form the boundary, and since
no mass is crossing this boundary, it is a closed system. Notice that energy
may cross the boundary, and part of the boundary (the inner surface of the
piston, in this case) may move. Everything outside the gas, including the
piston and the cylinder, is the surroundings.
An open system, or a control volume, as it is often called, is a selected region in space. It usually encloses a device that involves mass flow such as
a compressor, turbine, or nozzle. Flow through these devices is best stud-
ied by selecting the region within the device as the control volume. Both
mass and energy can cross the boundary (the control surface) of a control
volume.
A large number of engineering problems involve mass flow in and out
of an open system and, therefore, are modeled as control volumes. A water
heater, a car radiator, a turbine, and a compressor all involve mass flow
and should be analyzed as control volumes (open systems) instead of as
control masses (closed systems). In general, any arbitrary region in space
can be selected as a control volume. There are no concrete rules for the
selection of control volumes, but a wise choice certainly makes the analy-
sis much easier. If we were to analyze the flow of air through a nozzle, for
example, a good choice for the control volume would be the region within
the nozzle, or perhaps surrounding the entire nozzle.
A control volume can be fixed in size and shape, as in the case of a noz-
zle, or it may involve a moving boundary, as shown in Fig. 1–29. Most con-
trol volumes, however, have fixed boundaries and thus do not involve any
moving boundaries. A control volume may also involve heat and work inter-
actions just as a closed system, in addition to mass interaction.
1–6 ■ IMPORTANCE OF DIMENSIONS AND UNITSAny physical quantity can be characterized by dimensions. The magnitudes
assigned to the dimensions are called units. Some basic dimensions such
as mass m, length L, time t, and temperature T are selected as primary or
fundamental dimensions, while others such as velocity V, energy E, and
volume V are expressed in terms of the primary dimensions and are called
secondary dimensions, or derived dimensions.
GAS2 kg1.5 m3GAS
2 kg1 m3
Movingboundary
Fixedboundary
FIGURE 1–28A closed system with a moving
boundary.
FIGURE 1–29A control volume may involve
fixed, moving, real, and imaginary
boundaries.
CV
Movingboundary
Fixedboundary
Real boundary
(b) A control volume (CV) with fixed and moving boundaries as well as real and imaginary boundaries
(a) A control volume (CV) with real and imaginary boundaries
Imaginaryboundary
CV(a nozzle)
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 15001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 15 12/14/12 12:14 PM12/14/12 12:14 PM
16INTRODUCTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS
A number of unit systems have been developed over the years. Despite
strong efforts in the scientific and engineering community to unify the
world with a single unit system, two sets of units are still in common use
today: the English system, which is also known as the United States Cus-tomary System (USCS), and the metric SI (from Le Système International d’ Unités), which is also known as the International System. The SI is a
simple and logical system based on a decimal relationship between the vari-
ous units, and it is being used for scientific and engineering work in most of
the industrialized nations, including England. The English system, however,
has no apparent systematic numerical base, and various units in this system
are related to each other rather arbitrarily (12 in 5 1 ft, 1 mile 5 5280 ft,
4 qt 5 1 gal, etc.), which makes it confusing and difficult to learn. The
United States is the only industrialized country that has not yet fully con-
verted to the metric system.
The systematic efforts to develop a universally acceptable system of units
dates back to 1790 when the French National Assembly charged the French
Academy of Sciences to come up with such a unit system. An early version of
the metric system was soon developed in France, but it did not find universal
acceptance until 1875 when The Metric Convention Treaty was prepared and
signed by 17 nations, including the United States. In this international treaty,
meter and gram were established as the metric units for length and mass,
respectively, and a General Conference of Weights and Measures (CGPM) was
established that was to meet every six years. In 1960, the CGPM produced
the SI, which was based on six fundamental quantities, and their units were
adopted in 1954 at the Tenth General Conference of Weights and Measures:
meter (m) for length, kilogram (kg) for mass, second (s) for time, ampere (A)
for electric current, degree Kelvin (°K) for temperature, and candela (cd) for
luminous intensity (amount of light). In 1971, the CGPM added a seventh
fundamental quantity and unit: mole (mol) for the amount of matter.
Based on the notational scheme introduced in 1967, the degree symbol
was officially dropped from the absolute temperature unit, and all unit
names were to be written without capitalization even if they were derived
from proper names (Table 1–1). However, the abbreviation of a unit was
to be capitalized if the unit was derived from a proper name. For example,
the SI unit of force, which is named after Sir Isaac Newton (1647–1723),
is newton (not Newton), and it is abbreviated as N. Also, the full name
of a unit may be pluralized, but its abbreviation cannot. For example, the
length of an object can be 5 m or 5 meters, not 5 ms or 5 meter. Finally, no
period is to be used in unit abbreviations unless they appear at the end of a
sentence. For example, the proper abbreviation of meter is m (not m.).
The recent move toward the metric system in the United States seems to
have started in 1968 when Congress, in response to what was happening
in the rest of the world, passed a Metric Study Act. Congress continued to
promote a voluntary switch to the metric system by passing the Metric Con-
version Act in 1975. A trade bill passed by Congress in 1988 set a Septem-
ber 1992 deadline for all federal agencies to convert to the metric system.
However, the deadlines were relaxed later with no clear plans for the future.
As pointed out, the SI is based on a decimal relationship between units. The
prefixes used to express the multiples of the various units are listed in Table 1–2.
TABLE 1–1
The seven fundamental (or primary)
dimensions and their units in SI
Dimension Unit
Length meter (m)
Mass kilogram (kg)
Time second (s)
Temperature kelvin (K)
Electric current ampere (A)
Amount of light candela (cd)
Amount of matter mole (mol)
TABLE 1–2
Standard prefixes in SI units
Multiple Prefix
1024 yotta, Y
1021 zetta, Z
1018 exa, E
1015 peta, P
1012 tera, T
109 giga, G
106 mega, M
103 kilo, k
102 hecto, h
101 deka, da
1021 deci, d
1022 centi, c
1023 milli, m
1026 micro, m
1029 nano, n
10212 pico, p
10215 femto, f
10218 atto, a
10221 zepto, z
10224 yocto, y
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 16001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 16 12/14/12 12:14 PM12/14/12 12:14 PM
17CHAPTER 1
They are standard for all units, and the student is encouraged to memorize some
of them because of their widespread use (Fig. 1–30).
Some SI and English UnitsIn SI, the units of mass, length, and time are the kilogram (kg), meter (m),
and second (s), respectively. The respective units in the English system are
the pound-mass (lbm), foot (ft), and second (s). The pound symbol lb is
actually the abbreviation of libra, which was the ancient Roman unit of
weight. The English retained this symbol even after the end of the Roman
occupation of Britain in 410. The mass and length units in the two systems
are related to each other by
1 lbm 5 0.45359 kg
1 ft 5 0.3048 m
In the English system, force is often considered to be one of the primary
dimensions and is assigned a nonderived unit. This is a source of confu-
sion and error that necessitates the use of a dimensional constant (gc) in
many formulas. To avoid this nuisance, we consider force to be a secondary
dimension whose unit is derived from Newton’s second law, i.e.,
Force 5 (Mass) (Acceleration)
or F 5 ma (1–1)
In SI, the force unit is the newton (N), and it is defined as the force required to accelerate a mass of 1 kg at a rate of 1 m/s2. In the English system, the
force unit is the pound-force (lbf) and is defined as the force required to accelerate a mass of 32.174 lbm (1 slug) at a rate of 1 ft/s2 (Fig. 1–31).
That is,
1 N 5 1 kg·m/s2
1 lbf 5 32.174 lbm·ft/s2
A force of 1 N is roughly equivalent to the weight of a small apple
(m 5 102 g), whereas a force of 1 lbf is roughly equivalent to the weight of
four medium apples (mtotal 5 454 g), as shown in Fig. 1–32. Another force
unit in common use in many European countries is the kilogram-force (kgf),
which is the weight of 1 kg mass at sea level (1 kgf 5 9.807 N).
The term weight is often incorrectly used to express mass, particularly
by the “weight watchers.” Unlike mass, weight W is a force. It is the gravi-
tational force applied to a body, and its magnitude is determined from an
equation based on Newton’s second law,
W 5 mg (N) (1–2)
where m is the mass of the body, and g is the local gravitational accel-
eration (g is 9.807 m/s2 or 32.174 ft/s2 at sea level and 45° latitude). An
ordinary bathroom scale measures the gravitational force acting on a body.
The weight per unit volume of a substance is called the specific weight g
and is determined from g 5 rg, where r is density.
1 kg200 mL(0.2 L) (103 g)
1 MV
(106 V)
FIGURE 1–30The SI unit prefixes are used in all
branches of engineering.
m = 1 kg
m = 32.174 lbm
a = 1 m/s2
a = 1 ft/s2
F = 1 lbf
F = 1 N
FIGURE 1–31The definition of the force units.
1 kgf
10 applesm � 1 kg
4 applesm � 1 lbm
1 lbf
1 applem � 102 g
1 N
FIGURE 1–32The relative magnitudes of the force
units newton (N), kilogram-force
(kgf), and pound-force (lbf).
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 17001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 17 12/14/12 12:14 PM12/14/12 12:14 PM
18INTRODUCTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS
The mass of a body remains the same regardless of its location in the uni-
verse. Its weight, however, changes with a change in gravitational accelera-
tion. A body weighs less on top of a mountain since g decreases (by a small
amount) with altitude. On the surface of the moon, an astronaut weighs
about one-sixth of what she or he normally weighs on earth (Fig. 1–33).
At sea level a mass of 1 kg weighs 9.807 N, as illustrated in Fig. 1–34. A
mass of 1 lbm, however, weighs 1 lbf, which misleads people to believe that
pound-mass and pound-force can be used interchangeably as pound (lb),
which is a major source of error in the English system.
It should be noted that the gravity force acting on a mass is due to the
attraction between the masses, and thus it is proportional to the mag-
nitudes of the masses and inversely proportional to the square of the dis-
tance between them. Therefore, the gravitational acceleration g at a location
depends on the local density of the earth’s crust, the distance to the center
of the earth, and to a lesser extent, the positions of the moon and the sun.
The value of g varies with location from 9.8295 m/s2 at 4500 m below sea
level to 7.3218 m/s2 at 100,000 m above sea level. However, at altitudes up
to 30,000 m, the variation of g from the sea-level value of 9.807 m/s2, is
less than 1 percent. Therefore, for most practical purposes, the gravitational
acceleration can be assumed to be constant at 9.807 m/s2, often rounded to
9.81 m/s2. It is interesting to note that the value of g increases with distance
below sea level, reaches a maximum at about 4500 m below sea level, and
then starts decreasing. (What do you think the value of g is at the center of
the earth?)
The primary cause of confusion between mass and weight is that mass is
usually measured indirectly by measuring the gravity force it exerts. This
approach also assumes that the forces exerted by other effects such as air
buoyancy and fluid motion are negligible. This is like measuring the dis-
tance to a star by measuring its red shift, or measuring the altitude of an
airplane by measuring barometric pressure. Both of these are also indirect
measurements. The correct direct way of measuring mass is to compare it
to a known mass. This is cumbersome, however, and it is mostly used for
calibration and measuring precious metals.
Work, which is a form of energy, can simply be defined as force times
distance; therefore, it has the unit “newton-meter (N.m),” which is called a
joule (J). That is,
1 J 5 1 N·m (1–3)
A more common unit for energy in SI is the kilojoule (1 kJ 5 103 J). In the
English system, the energy unit is the Btu (British thermal unit), which is
defined as the energy required to raise the temperature of 1 lbm of water at
68°F by 1°F. In the metric system, the amount of energy needed to raise the
temperature of 1 g of water at 14.5°C by 1°C is defined as 1 calorie (cal),
and 1 cal 5 4.1868 J. The magnitudes of the kilojoule and Btu are very
nearly the same (1 Btu 5 1.0551 kJ). Here is a good way to get a feel for
these units: If you light a typical match and let it burn itself out, it yields
approximately one Btu (or one kJ) of energy (Fig. 1–35).
The unit for time rate of energy is joule per second (J/s), which is called
a watt (W). In the case of work, the time rate of energy is called power.
A commonly used unit of power is horsepower (hp), which is equivalent
FIGURE 1–33A body weighing 150 lbf on earth will
weigh only 25 lbf on the moon.
g = 9.807 m/s2
W = 9.807 kg·m/s2
= 9.807 N = 1 kgf
W = 32.174 lbm·ft/s2
= 1 lbf
g = 32.174 ft/s2
kg lbm
FIGURE 1–34The weight of a unit mass at sea level.
FIGURE 1–35A typical match yields about one Btu
(or one kJ) of energy if completely
burned.
Photo by John M. Cimbala.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 18001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 18 12/14/12 12:14 PM12/14/12 12:14 PM
19CHAPTER 1
to 745.7 W. Electrical energy typically is expressed in the unit kilowatt-hour
(kWh), which is equivalent to 3600 kJ. An electric appliance with a rated
power of 1 kW consumes 1 kWh of electricity when running continu-
ously for one hour. When dealing with electric power generation, the units
kW and kWh are often confused. Note that kW or kJ/s is a unit of power,
whereas kWh is a unit of energy. Therefore, statements like “the new wind
turbine will generate 50 kW of electricity per year” are meaningless and
incorrect. A correct statement should be something like “the new wind tur-
bine with a rated power of 50 kW will generate 120,000 kWh of electricity
per year.”
Dimensional HomogeneityWe all know that you cannot add apples and oranges. But we somehow
manage to do it (by mistake, of course). In engineering, all equations must
be dimensionally homogeneous. That is, every term in an equation must
have the same dimensions. If, at some stage of an analysis, we find our-
selves in a position to add two quantities that have different dimensions
or units, it is a clear indication that we have made an error at an earlier
stage. So checking dimensions (or units) can serve as a valuable tool to
spot errors.
EXAMPLE 1–2 Electric Power Generation by a Wind Turbine
A school is paying $0.09/kWh for electric power. To reduce its power bill,
the school installs a wind turbine (Fig 1–36) with a rated power of 30 kW.
If the turbine operates 2200 hours per year at the rated power, determine
the amount of electric power generated by the wind turbine and the money
saved by the school per year.
SOLUTION A wind turbine is installed to generate electricity. The amount of
electric energy generated and the money saved per year are to be determined.
Analysis The wind turbine generates electric energy at a rate of 30 kW or
30 kJ/s. Then the total amount of electric energy generated per year becomes
Total energy 5 (Energy per unit time)(Time interval)
5 (30 kW)(2200 h)
5 66,000 kWh
The money saved per year is the monetary value of this energy determined as
Money saved 5 (Total energy)(Unit cost of energy)
5 (66,000 kWh)($0.09/kWh)
5 $5940
Discussion The annual electric energy production also could be determined
in kJ by unit manipulations as
Total energy 5 (30 kW)(2200 h)a3600 s
1 hb a1 kJ/s
1 kWb 5 2.38 3 108 kJ
which is equivalent to 66,000 kWh (1 kWh = 3600 kJ).
FIGURE 1–36A wind turbine, as discussed in
Example 1–2.
Photo by Andy Cimbala.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 19001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 19 12/14/12 12:14 PM12/14/12 12:14 PM
20INTRODUCTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS
We all know from experience that units can give terrible headaches if they
are not used carefully in solving a problem. However, with some attention
and skill, units can be used to our advantage. They can be used to check
formulas; sometimes they can even be used to derive formulas, as explained
in the following example.
EXAMPLE 1–3 Obtaining Formulas from Unit Considerations
A tank is filled with oil whose density is r 5 850 kg/m3. If the volume of the
tank is V 5 2 m3, determine the amount of mass m in the tank.
SOLUTION The volume of an oil tank is given. The mass of oil is to be
determined.
Assumptions Oil is a nearly incompressible substance and thus its density
is constant.
Analysis A sketch of the system just described is given in Fig. 1–37. Sup-
pose we forgot the formula that relates mass to density and volume. However,
we know that mass has the unit of kilograms. That is, whatever calculations
we do, we should end up with the unit of kilograms. Putting the given infor-
mation into perspective, we have
r 5 850 kg/m3 and V 5 2 m3
It is obvious that we can eliminate m3 and end up with kg by multiplying
these two quantities. Therefore, the formula we are looking for should be
m 5 rV
Thus,
m 5 (850 kg/m3)(2 m3) 5 1700 kg
Discussion Note that this approach may not work for more complicated
formulas. Nondimensional constants also may be present in the formulas,
and these cannot be derived from unit considerations alone.
You should keep in mind that a formula that is not dimensionally homo-
geneous is definitely wrong (Fig. 1 –38), but a dimensionally homogeneous
formula is not necessarily right.
Unity Conversion RatiosJust as all nonprimary dimensions can be formed by suitable combina-
tions of primary dimensions, all nonprimary units (secondary units) can be formed by combinations of primary units. Force units, for example, can be
expressed as
N 5 kg m
s2 and lbf 5 32.174 lbm
ft
s2
They can also be expressed more conveniently as unity conversion ratios as
N
kg·m/s25 1 and
lbf
32.174 lbm·ft/s25 1
FIGURE 1–38Always check the units in your
calculations.
Oil = 2 m3
m = ?r = 850 kg/m3
FIGURE 1–37Schematic for Example 1–3.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 20001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 20 12/14/12 2:00 PM12/14/12 2:00 PM
21CHAPTER 1
Unity conversion ratios are identically equal to 1 and are unitless, and thus
such ratios (or their inverses) can be inserted conveniently into any calcu-
lation to properly convert units (Fig 1–39). You are encouraged to always
use unity conversion ratios such as those given here when converting units.
Some text books insert the archaic gravitational constant gc defined as
gc 5 32.174 lbm·ft/lbf·s2 5 kg·m/N·s2 5 1 into equations in order to force
units to match. This practice leads to unnecessary confusion and is strongly
discouraged by the present authors. We recommend that you instead use
unity conversion ratios.
EXAMPLE 1–4 The Weight of One Pound-Mass
Using unity conversion ratios, show that 1.00 lbm weighs 1.00 lbf on earth
(Fig. 1–40).
Solution A mass of 1.00 lbm is subjected to standard earth gravity. Its
weight in lbf is to be determined.
Assumptions Standard sea-level conditions are assumed.
Properties The gravitational constant is g 5 32.174 ft/s2.Analysis We apply Newton’s second law to calculate the weight (force) that
corresponds to the known mass and acceleration. The weight of any object
is equal to its mass times the local value of gravitational acceleration. Thus,
W 5 mg 5 (1.00 lbm)(32.174 ft/s2)a 1 lbf
32.174 lbm·ft/s2b 5 1.00 lbf
Discussion The quantity in large parentheses in this equation is a unity
conversion ratio. Mass is the same regardless of its location. However, on
some other planet with a different value of gravitational acceleration, the
weight of 1 lbm would differ from that calculated here.
When you buy a box of breakfast cereal, the printing may say “Net
weight: One pound (454 grams).” (See Fig. 1–41.) Technically, this means
that the cereal inside the box weighs 1.00 lbf on earth and has a mass of
453.6 g (0.4536 kg). Using Newton’s second law, the actual weight of the
cereal on earth is
W 5 mg 5 (453.6 g)(9.81 m/s2)a 1 N
1 kg·m/s2b a 1 kg
1000 gb 5 4.49 N
1–7 ■ MODELING IN ENGINEERINGAn engineering device or process can be studied either experimentally (test-
ing and taking measurements) or analytically (by analysis or calculations).
The experimental approach has the advantage that we deal with the actual
physical system, and the desired quantity is determined by measurement,
lbm
FIGURE 1–40A mass of 1 lbm weighs 1 lbf on earth.
0.3048 m1 ft
1 min60 s
1 lbm0.45359 kg
32.174 lbm?ft/s2
1 lbf1 kg?m/s2
1 N
1 kPa1000 N/m2
1 kJ1000 N?m
1 W1 J/s
FIGURE 1–39Every unity conversion ratio (as well
as its inverse) is exactly equal to one.
Shown here are a few commonly used
unity conversion ratios.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 21001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 21 12/14/12 12:14 PM12/14/12 12:14 PM
22INTRODUCTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS
within the limits of experimental error. However, this approach is expen-
sive, time-consuming, and often impractical. Besides, the system we are
studying may not even exist. For example, the entire heating and plumbing
systems of a building must usually be sized before the building is actu-
ally built on the basis of the specifications given. The analytical approach
(including the numerical approach) has the advantage that it is fast and
inexpensive, but the results obtained are subject to the accuracy of the
assumptions, approximations, and idealizations made in the analysis.
In engineering studies, often a good compromise is reached by reduc-
ing the choices to just a few by analysis, and then verifying the findings
experimentally.
The descriptions of most scientific problems involve equations that relate
the changes in some key variables to each other. Usually the smaller the
increment chosen in the changing variables, the more general and accurate
the description. In the limiting case of infinitesimal or differential changes
in variables, we obtain differential equations that provide precise math-
ematical formulations for the physical principles and laws by represent-
ing the rates of change as derivatives. Therefore, differential equations are
used to investigate a wide variety of problems in sciences and engineering
(Fig. 1–42). However, many problems encountered in practice can be solved
without resorting to differential equations and the complications associated
with them.
The study of physical phenomena involves two important steps. In the
first step, all the variables that affect the phenomena are identified, reason-
able assumptions and approximations are made, and the interdependence
of these variables is studied. The relevant physical laws and principles are
invoked, and the problem is formulated mathematically. The equation itself
is very instructive as it shows the degree of dependence of some variables
on others, and the relative importance of various terms. In the second step,
the problem is solved using an appropriate approach, and the results are
interpreted.
Many processes that seem to occur in nature randomly and without any
order are, in fact, being governed by some visible or not-so-visible physi-
cal laws. Whether we notice them or not, these laws are there, governing
consistently and predictably over what seem to be ordinary events. Most of
these laws are well defined and well understood by scientists. This makes
it possible to predict the course of an event before it actually occurs or to
study various aspects of an event mathematically without actually running
expensive and time-consuming experiments. This is where the power of
analysis lies. Very accurate results to meaningful practical problems can be
obtained with relatively little effort by using a suitable and realistic mathe-
matical model. The preparation of such models requires an adequate knowl-
edge of the natural phenomena involved and the relevant laws, as well as
sound judgment. An unrealistic model will obviously give inaccurate and
thus unacceptable results.
An analyst working on an engineering problem often finds himself or her-
self in a position to make a choice between a very accurate but complex
model, and a simple but not-so-accurate model. The right choice depends
on the situation at hand. The right choice is usually the simplest model that
Identifyimportantvariables Make
reasonableassumptions andapproximationsApply
relevantphysical laws
Physical problem
A differential equation
Applyapplicablesolution
technique
Applyboundaryand initialconditions
Solution of the problem
FIGURE 1–42Mathematical modeling of physical
problems.
Net weight:One pound (454 grams)
FIGURE 1–41A quirk in the metric system of units.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 22001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 22 12/14/12 12:14 PM12/14/12 12:14 PM
23CHAPTER 1
yields satisfactory results (Fig 1–43). Also, it is important to consider the
actual operating conditions when selecting equipment.
Preparing very accurate but complex models is usually not so difficult.
But such models are not much use to an analyst if they are very difficult
and time-consuming to solve. At the minimum, the model should reflect the
essential features of the physical problem it represents. There are many sig-
nificant real-world problems that can be analyzed with a simple model. But
it should always be kept in mind that the results obtained from an analysis
are at best as accurate as the assumptions made in simplifying the problem.
Therefore, the solution obtained should not be applied to situations for
which the original assumptions do not hold.
A solution that is not quite consistent with the observed nature of the
problem indicates that the mathematical model used is too crude. In that
case, a more realistic model should be prepared by eliminating one or more
of the questionable assumptions. This will result in a more complex problem
that, of course, is more difficult to solve. Thus any solution to a problem
should be interpreted within the context of its formulation.
1–8 ■ PROBLEM-SOLVING TECHNIQUEThe first step in learning any science is to grasp the fundamentals and to gain
a sound knowledge of it. The next step is to master the fundamentals by test-
ing this knowledge. This is done by solving significant real-world problems.
Solving such problems, especially complicated ones, requires a systematic
approach. By using a step-by-step approach, an engineer can reduce the
FIGURE 1–43Simplified models are often used in fluid mechanics to obtain approximate solutions to difficult engineering problems.
Here, the helicopter’s rotor is modeled by a disk, across which is imposed a sudden change in pressure. The helicopter’s
body is modeled by a simple ellipsoid. This simplified model yields the essential features of the overall air flow field in the
vicinity of the ground.
Photo by John M. Cimbala.
Ground
Rotor disk
Simplified body
(a) Actual engineering problem (b) Minimum essential model of the engineering problem
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 23001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 23 12/14/12 12:14 PM12/14/12 12:14 PM
24INTRODUCTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS
solution of a complicated problem into the solution of a series of simple
problems (Fig. 1–44). When you are solving a problem, we recommend that
you use the following steps zealously as applicable. This will help you avoid
some of the common pitfalls associated with problem solving.
Step 1: Problem StatementIn your own words, briefly state the problem, the key information given,
and the quantities to be found. This is to make sure that you understand the
problem and the objectives before you attempt to solve the problem.
Step 2: SchematicDraw a realistic sketch of the physical system involved, and list the relevant
information on the figure. The sketch does not have to be something elabo-
rate, but it should resemble the actual system and show the key features.
Indicate any energy and mass interactions with the surroundings. Listing
the given information on the sketch helps one to see the entire problem
at once. Also, check for properties that remain constant during a process
(such as temperature during an isothermal process), and indicate them on
the sketch.
Step 3: Assumptions and ApproximationsState any appropriate assumptions and approximations made to simplify
the problem to make it possible to obtain a solution. Justify the ques-
tionable assumptions. Assume reasonable values for missing quantities
that are necessary. For example, in the absence of specific data for atmo-
spheric pressure, it can be taken to be 1 atm. However, it should be noted
in the analysis that the atmospheric pressure decreases with increasing
elevation. For example, it drops to 0.83 atm in Denver (elevation 1610 m)
(Fig. 1–45).
Step 4: Physical LawsApply all the relevant basic physical laws and principles (such as the con-
servation of mass), and reduce them to their simplest form by utilizing the
assumptions made. However, the region to which a physical law is applied
must be clearly identified first. For example, the increase in speed of water
flowing through a nozzle is analyzed by applying conservation of mass
between the inlet and outlet of the nozzle.
Step 5: PropertiesDetermine the unknown properties at known states necessary to solve the
problem from property relations or tables. List the properties separately, and
indicate their source, if applicable.
Step 6: CalculationsSubstitute the known quantities into the simplified relations and perform the
calculations to determine the unknowns. Pay particular attention to the units
and unit cancellations, and remember that a dimensional quantity without a
unit is meaningless. Also, don’t give a false implication of high precision
SOLUTION
HA
RD
WA
YEASY WAY
PROBLEM
FIGURE 1–44A step-by-step approach can greatly
simplify problem solving.
Given: Air temperature in Denver
To be found: Density of air
Missing information: Atmosphericpressure
Assumption #1: Take P = 1 atm(Inappropriate. Ignores effect of altitude. Will cause more than 15% error.)
Assumption #2: Take P = 0.83 atm(Appropriate. Ignores only minor effects such as weather.)
FIGURE 1–45The assumptions made while solving
an engineering problem must be
reasonable and justifiable.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 24001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 24 12/14/12 12:14 PM12/14/12 12:14 PM
25CHAPTER 1
by copying all the digits from the screen of the calculator—round the final
results to an appropriate number of significant digits (Section 1–10).
Step 7: Reasoning, Verification, and DiscussionCheck to make sure that the results obtained are reasonable and intuitive,
and verify the validity of the questionable assumptions. Repeat the calcula-
tions that resulted in unreasonable values. For example, under the same test
conditions the aerodynamic drag acting on a car should not increase after
streamlining the shape of the car (Fig. 1–46).
Also, point out the significance of the results, and discuss their implications.
State the conclusions that can be drawn from the results, and any recommen-
dations that can be made from them. Emphasize the limitations under which
the results are applicable, and caution against any possible misunderstand-
ings and using the results in situations where the underlying assumptions do
not apply. For example, if you determined that using a larger-diameter pipe
in a proposed pipeline will cost an additional $5000 in materials, but it will
reduce the annual pumping costs by $3000, indicate that the larger-diameter
pipeline will pay for its cost differential from the electricity it saves in less
than two years. However, also state that only additional material costs associ-
ated with the larger-diameter pipeline are considered in the analysis.
Keep in mind that the solutions you present to your instructors, and
any engineering analysis presented to others, is a form of communication.
Therefore neatness, organization, completeness, and visual appearance are
of utmost importance for maximum effectiveness (Fig 1–47). Besides, neat-
ness also serves as a great checking tool since it is very easy to spot errors
and inconsistencies in neat work. Carelessness and skipping steps to save
time often end up costing more time and unnecessary anxiety.
The approach described here is used in the solved example problems with-
out explicitly stating each step, as well as in the Solutions Manual of this
text. For some problems, some of the steps may not be applicable or neces-
sary. For example, often it is not practical to list the properties separately.
However, we cannot overemphasize the importance of a logical and orderly
approach to problem solving. Most difficulties encountered while solving a
problem are not due to a lack of knowledge; rather, they are due to a lack of
organization. You are strongly encouraged to follow these steps in problem
solving until you develop your own approach that works best for you.
1–9 ■ ENGINEERING SOFTWARE PACKAGESYou may be wondering why we are about to undertake an in-depth study of
the fundamentals of another engineering science. After all, almost all such
problems we are likely to encounter in practice can be solved using one
of several sophisticated software packages readily available in the market
today. These software packages not only give the desired numerical results,
but also supply the outputs in colorful graphical form for impressive presen-
tations. It is unthinkable to practice engineering today without using some
of these packages. This tremendous computing power available to us at the
touch of a button is both a blessing and a curse. It certainly enables engi-
neers to solve problems easily and quickly, but it also opens the door for
Before streamliningV
VAfter streamliningUnreasonable!
Before streamliningBefore streamliningV
VAfter streamliningAfter streamliningUnreasonable!Unreasonable!
FD
FD
FIGURE 1–46The results obtained from an
engineering analysis must be checked
for reasonableness.
FIGURE 1–47Neatness and organization are highly
valued by employers.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 25001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 25 12/14/12 12:14 PM12/14/12 12:14 PM
26INTRODUCTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS
abuses and misinformation. In the hands of poorly educated people, these
software packages are as dangerous as sophisticated powerful weapons in
the hands of poorly trained soldiers.
Thinking that a person who can use the engineering software packages
without proper training in the fundamentals can practice engineering is like
thinking that a person who can use a wrench can work as a car mechanic. If
it were true that the engineering students do not need all these fundamental
courses they are taking because practically everything can be done by com-
puters quickly and easily, then it would also be true that the employers would
no longer need high-salaried engineers since any person who knows how
to use a word-processing program can also learn how to use those software
packages. However, the statistics show that the need for engineers is on the
rise, not on the decline, despite the availability of these powerful packages.
We should always remember that all the computing power and the engi-
neering software packages available today are just tools, and tools have
meaning only in the hands of masters. Having the best word-processing
program does not make a person a good writer, but it certainly makes the
job of a good writer much easier and makes the writer more productive
(Fig. 1–48). Hand calculators did not eliminate the need to teach our chil-
dren how to add or subtract, and sophisticated medical software packages
did not take the place of medical school training. Neither will engineering
software packages replace the traditional engineering education. They will
simply cause a shift in emphasis in the courses from mathematics to physics.
That is, more time will be spent in the classroom discussing the physical
aspects of the problems in greater detail, and less time on the mechanics of
solution procedures.
All these marvelous and powerful tools available today put an extra bur-
den on today’s engineers. They must still have a thorough understanding
of the fundamentals, develop a “feel” of the physical phenomena, be able
to put the data into proper perspective, and make sound engineering judg-
ments, just like their predecessors. However, they must do it much better,
and much faster, using more realistic models because of the powerful tools
available today. The engineers in the past had to rely on hand calculations,
slide rules, and later hand calculators and computers. Today they rely on
software packages. The easy access to such power and the possibility of a
simple misunderstanding or misinterpretation causing great damage make it
more important today than ever to have solid training in the fundamentals
of engineering. In this text we make an extra effort to put the emphasis on
developing an intuitive and physical understanding of natural phenomena
instead of on the mathematical details of solution procedures.
Engineering Equation Solver (EES)EES is a program that solves systems of linear or nonlinear algebraic or
differential equations numerically. It has a large library of built-in thermo-
dynamic property functions as well as mathematical functions, and allows
the user to supply additional property data. Unlike some software packages,
EES does not solve engineering problems; it only solves the equations sup-
plied by the user. Therefore, the user must understand the problem and for-
mulate it by applying any relevant physical laws and relations. EES saves
FIGURE 1–48An excellent word-processing program
does not make a person a good writer;
it simply makes a good writer a more
efficient writer.
© Ingram Publishing RF
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 26001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 26 12/14/12 12:14 PM12/14/12 12:14 PM
27CHAPTER 1
the user considerable time and effort by simply solving the resulting math-
ematical equations. This makes it possible to attempt significant engineering
problems not suitable for hand calculations and to conduct parametric stud-
ies quickly and conveniently. EES is a very powerful yet intuitive program
that is very easy to use, as shown in Example 1–5. The use and capabilities
of EES are explained in Appendix 3 on the text website.
EXAMPLE 1–5 Solving a System of Equations with EES
The difference of two numbers is 4, and the sum of the squares of these two
numbers is equal to the sum of the numbers plus 20. Determine these two
numbers.
SOLUTION Relations are given for the difference and the sum of the
squares of two numbers. The two numbers are to be determined.
Analysis We start the EES program by double-clicking on its icon, open a
new file, and type the following on the blank screen that appears:
x–y54
x ˆ 21y ˆ 25x1y120
which is an exact mathematical expression of the problem statement with
x and y denoting the unknown numbers. The solution to this system of two
nonlinear equations with two unknowns is obtained by a single click on the
“calculator” icon on the taskbar. It gives (Fig. 1–49)
x 5 5 and y 5 1
Discussion Note that all we did is formulate the problem as we would on
paper; EES took care of all the mathematical details of solution. Also note
that equations can be linear or nonlinear, and they can be entered in any
order with unknowns on either side. Friendly equation solvers such as EES
allow the user to concentrate on the physics of the problem without worry-
ing about the mathematical complexities associated with the solution of the
resulting system of equations.
CFD SoftwareComputational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used extensively in engineering
and research, and we discuss CFD in detail in Chapter 15. We also show
example solutions from CFD throughout the textbook since CFD graphics
are great for illustrating flow streamlines, velocity, and pressure distribu-
tions, etc.– beyond what we are able to visualize in the laboratory. However,
because there are several different commercial CFD packages available
for users, and student access to these codes is highly dependent on depart-
mental licenses, we do not provide end-of-chapter CFD problems that are
tied to any particular CFD package. Instead, we provide some general
CFD problems in Chapter 15 , and we also maintain a website (see link
at www.mhhe.com/cengel) containing CFD problems that can be solved
with a number of different CFD programs. Students are encouraged to work
through some of these problems to become familiar with CFD.
FIGURE 1–49EES screen images for Example 1–5.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 27001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 27 12/20/12 3:30 PM12/20/12 3:30 PM
28INTRODUCTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS
1–10 ■ ACCURACY, PRECISION, AND SIGNIFICANT DIGITS
In engineering calculations, the supplied information is not known to more
than a certain number of significant digits, usually three digits. Conse-
quently, the results obtained cannot possibly be precise to more significant
digits. Reporting results in more significant digits implies greater precision
than exists, and it should be avoided.
Regardless of the system of units employed, engineers must be aware of
three principles that govern the proper use of numbers: accuracy, precision, and
significant digits. For engineering measurements, they are defined as follows:
• Accuracy error (inaccuracy) is the value of one reading minus the
true value. In general, accuracy of a set of measurements refers to the
closeness of the average reading to the true value. Accuracy is generally
associated with repeatable, fixed errors.
• Precision error is the value of one reading minus the average of readings.
In general, precision of a set of measurements refers to the fineness of the
resolution and the repeatability of the instrument. Precision is generally
associated with unrepeatable, random errors.
• Significant digits are digits that are relevant and meaningful.
A measurement or calculation can be very precise without being very
accurate, and vice versa. For example, suppose the true value of wind speed
is 25.00 m/s. Two anemometers A and B take five wind speed readings each:
Anemometer A: 25.50, 25.69, 25.52, 25.58, and 25.61 m/s. Average
of all readings 5 25.58 m/s.
Anemometer B: 26.3, 24.5, 23.9, 26.8, and 23.6 m/s. Average of all
readings 5 25.02 m/s.
Clearly, anemometer A is more precise, since none of the readings differs
by more than 0.11 m/s from the average. However, the average is 25.58 m/s,
0.58 m/s greater than the true wind speed; this indicates significant bias error, also called constant error or systematic error. On the other hand,
anemometer B is not very precise, since its readings swing wildly from the
average; but its overall average is much closer to the true value. Hence,
anemometer B is more accurate than anemometer A, at least for this set of
readings, even though it is less precise. The difference between accuracy
and precision can be illustrated effectively by analogy to shooting arrows at
a target, as sketched in Fig. 1–50. Shooter A is very precise, but not very
accurate, while shooter B has better overall accuracy, but less precision.
Many engineers do not pay proper attention to the number of significant
digits in their calculations. The least significant numeral in a number implies
the precision of the measurement or calculation. For example, a result
written as 1.23 (three significant digits) implies that the result is precise to
within one digit in the second decimal place; i.e., the number is somewhere
between 1.22 and 1.24. Expressing this number with any more digits would
be misleading. The number of significant digits is most easily evaluated
when the number is written in exponential notation; the number of signifi-
cant digits can then simply be counted, including zeroes. Alternatively, the
A
B
+++
++
+
+
++++++
++
FIGURE 1–50Illustration of accuracy versus
precision. Shooter A is more precise,
but less accurate, while shooter B is
more accurate, but less precise.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 28001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 28 12/14/12 12:14 PM12/14/12 12:14 PM
29CHAPTER 1
least significant digit can be underlined to indicate the author’s intent. Some
examples are shown in Table 1–3.
When performing calculations or manipulations of several parameters, the
final result is generally only as precise as the least precise parameter in the
problem. For example, suppose A and B are multiplied to obtain C. If A 5
2.3601 (five significant digits), and B 5 0.34 (two significant digits), then
C 5 0.80 (only two digits are significant in the final result). Note that most
students are tempted to write C 5 0.802434, with six significant digits, since
that is what is displayed on a calculator after multiplying these two numbers.
Let’s analyze this simple example carefully. Suppose the exact value of
B is 0.33501, which is read by the instrument as 0.34. Also suppose A is
exactly 2.3601, as measured by a more accurate and precise instrument. In
this case, C 5 A 3 B 5 0.79066 to five significant digits. Note that our first
answer, C 5 0.80 is off by one digit in the second decimal place. Likewise,
if B is 0.34499, and is read by the instrument as 0.34, the product of A and
B would be 0.81421 to five significant digits. Our original answer of 0.80
is again off by one digit in the second decimal place. The main point here
is that 0.80 (to two significant digits) is the best one can expect from this
multiplication since, to begin with, one of the values had only two signifi-
cant digits. Another way of looking at this is to say that beyond the first two
digits in the answer, the rest of the digits are meaningless or not signifi-
cant. For example, if one reports what the calculator displays, 2.3601 times
0.34 equals 0.802434, the last four digits are meaningless. As shown, the
final result may lie between 0.79 and 0.81—any digits beyond the two sig-
nificant digits are not only meaningless, but misleading, since they imply to
the reader more precision than is really there.
As another example, consider a 3.75-L container filled with gasoline
whose density is 0.845 kg/L, and determine its mass. Probably the first
thought that comes to your mind is to multiply the volume and density
to obtain 3.16875 kg for the mass, which falsely implies that the mass so
determined is precise to six significant digits. In reality, however, the mass
cannot be more precise than three significant digits since both the volume
and the density are precise to three significant digits only. Therefore, the
result should be rounded to three significant digits, and the mass should be
reported to be 3.17 kg instead of what the calculator displays (Fig. 1–51).
The result 3.16875 kg would be correct only if the volume and density
were given to be 3.75000 L and 0.845000 kg/L, respectively. The value
3.75 L implies that we are fairly confident that the volume is precise within
60.01 L, and it cannot be 3.74 or 3.76 L. However, the volume can be
3.746, 3.750, 3.753, etc., since they all round to 3.75 L.
You should also be aware that sometimes we knowingly introduce small
errors in order to avoid the trouble of searching for more accurate data.
For example, when dealing with liquid water, we often use the value of
1000 kg/m3 for density, which is the density value of pure water at 0°C.
Using this value at 75°C will result in an error of 2.5 percent since the den-
sity at this temperature is 975 kg/m3. The minerals and impurities in the
water will introduce additional error. This being the case, you should have
no reservation in rounding the final results to a reasonable number of sig-
nificant digits. Besides, having a few percent uncertainty in the results of
engineering analysis is usually the norm, not the exception.
Given:
Also, 3.75 × 0.845 = 3.16875
Volume:
Density:
Find: Mass: m = V = 3.16875 kg
Rounding to 3 significant digits:m = 3.17 kg
(3 significant digits)
V = 3.75 L
r = 0.845 kg/L
r
FIGURE 1–51A result with more significant digits
than that of given data falsely implies
more precision.
TABLE 1–3
Significant digits
Number of
Exponential Significant
Number Notation Digits
12.3 1.23 3 101 3
123,000 1.23 3 105 3
0.00123 1.23 3 1023 3
40,300 4.03 3 104 3
40,300. 4.0300 3 104 5
0.005600 5.600 3 1023 4
0.0056 5.6 3 1023 2
0.006 6. 3 1023 1
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 29001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 29 12/14/12 12:14 PM12/14/12 12:14 PM
30INTRODUCTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS
When writing intermediate results in a computation, it is advisable to
keep several “extra” digits to avoid round-off errors; however, the final
result should be written with the number of significant digits taken into
consideration. You must also keep in mind that a certain number of signifi-
cant digits of precision in the result does not necessarily imply the same
number of digits of overall accuracy. Bias error in one of the readings may,
for example, significantly reduce the overall accuracy of the result, perhaps
even rendering the last significant digit meaningless, and reducing the over-
all number of reliable digits by one. Experimentally determined values are
subject to measurement errors, and such errors are reflected in the results
obtained. For example, if the density of a substance has an uncertainty of
2 percent, then the mass determined using this density value will also have
an uncertainty of 2 percent.
Finally, when the number of significant digits is unknown, the accepted
engineering standard is three significant digits. Therefore, if the length of a
pipe is given to be 40 m, we will assume it to be 40.0 m in order to justify
using three significant digits in the final results.
EXAMPLE 1–6 Significant Digits and Volume Flow Rate
Jennifer is conducting an experiment that uses cooling water from a garden
hose. In order to calculate the volume flow rate of water through the hose,
she times how long it takes to fill a container (Fig. 1–52). The volume of
water collected is V 5 1.1 gal in time period Dt 5 45.62 s, as measured
with a stopwatch. Calculate the volume flow rate of water through the hose
in units of cubic meters per minute.
SOLUTION Volume flow rate is to be determined from measurements of
volume and time period.
Assumptions 1 Jennifer recorded her measurements properly, such that
the volume measurement is precise to two significant digits while the time
period is precise to four significant digits. 2 No water is lost due to splash-
ing out of the container.
Analysis Volume flow rate V. is volume displaced per unit time and is
expressed as
Volume flow rate: V#
5DV
Dt
Substituting the measured values, the volume flow rate is determined to be
V#
51.1 gal
45.62 s a3.7854 3 1023 m3
1 galb a 60 s
1 minb 5 5.5 3 1023m3/min
Discussion The final result is listed to two significant digits since we can-
not be confident of any more precision than that. If this were an interme-
diate step in subsequent calculations, a few extra digits would be carried
along to avoid accumulated round-off error. In such a case, the volume flow
rate would be written as V. 5 5.4765 3 1023 m3/min. Based on the given
information, we cannot say anything about the accuracy of our result, since
we have no information about systematic errors in either the volume mea-
surement or the time measurement.
FIGURE 1–52Photo for Example 1–6 for the
measurement of volume flow rate.
Photo by John M. Cimbala.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 30001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 30 12/14/12 12:14 PM12/14/12 12:14 PM
31CHAPTER 1
Also keep in mind that good precision does not guarantee good accuracy.
For example, if the batteries in the stopwatch were weak, its accuracy could
be quite poor, yet the readout would still be displayed to four significant dig-
its of precision.
In common practice, precision is often associated with resolution, which
is a measure of how finely the instrument can report the measurement. For
example, a digital voltmeter with five digits on its display is said to be more
precise than a digital voltmeter with only three digits. However, the number
of displayed digits has nothing to do with the overall accuracy of the mea-
surement. An instrument can be very precise without being very accurate
when there are significant bias errors. Likewise, an instrument with very few
displayed digits can be more accurate than one with many digits (Fig. 1–53).
Exact time span = 45.623451 . . . s
(a)
TIMEXAM
46. s
(b)
TIMEXAM
43. s
(c)
TIMEXAM
44.189 s
(d)
TIMEXAM
45.624 s
FIGURE 1–53An instrument with many digits of
resolution (stopwatch c) may be less
accurate than an instrument with few
digits of resolution (stopwatch a).
What can you say about stopwatches b
and d?
SUMMARY
In this chapter some basic concepts of fluid mechanics are
introduced and discussed. A substance in the liquid or gas
phase is referred to as a fluid. Fluid mechanics is the science
that deals with the behavior of fluids at rest or in motion
and the interaction of fluids with solids or other fluids at the
boundaries.
The flow of an unbounded fluid over a surface is external flow, and the flow in a pipe or duct is internal flow if the
fluid is completely bounded by solid surfaces. A fluid
flow is classified as being compressible or incompressible,
depending on the density variation of the fluid during flow.
The densities of liquids are essentially constant, and thus the
flow of liquids is typically incompressible. The term steady
implies no change with time. The opposite of steady is
unsteady. The term uniform implies no change with location
over a specified region. A flow is said to be one-dimensional when the properties or variables change in one dimension
only. A fluid in direct contact with a solid surface sticks to
the surface and there is no slip. This is known as the no-slip condition, which leads to the formation of boundary layers
along solid surfaces. In this book we concentrate on steady
incompressible viscous flows—both internal and external.
A system of fixed mass is called a closed system, and a
system that involves mass transfer across its boundaries is
called an open system or control volume. A large number
of engineering problems involve mass flow in and out of a
system and are therefore modeled as control volumes.
In engineering calculations, it is important to pay particular
attention to the units of the quantities to avoid errors caused
by inconsistent units, and to follow a systematic approach. It
is also important to recognize that the information given is
not known to more than a certain number of significant digits,
and the results obtained cannot possibly be accurate to more
significant digits. The information given on dimensions and
units; problem-solving technique; and accuracy, precision,
and significant digits will be used throughout the entire text.
REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READING
1. American Society for Testing and Materials. Standards for Metric Practice. ASTM E 380-79, January 1980.
2. G. M. Homsy, H. Aref, K. S. Breuer, S. Hochgreb,
J. R. Koseff, B. R. Munson, K. G. Powell, C. R. Robertson,
and S. T. Thoroddsen. Multi-Media Fluid Mechanics (CD).
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000.
3. M. Van Dyke. An Album of Fluid Motion. Stanford,
CA: The Parabolic Press, 1982.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 31001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 31 12/14/12 12:14 PM12/14/12 12:14 PM
32INTRODUCTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS
Guest Author: Lorenz Sigurdson, Vortex Fluid Dynamics Lab, University of Alberta
Why do the two images in Fig. 1–54 look alike? Figure 1–54b shows an above-
ground nuclear test performed by the U.S. Department of Energy in 1957. An
atomic blast created a fireball on the order of 100 m in diameter. Expansion
is so quick that a compressible flow feature occurs: an expanding spherical
shock wave. The image shown in Fig. 1–54a is an everyday innocuous event:
an inverted image of a dye-stained water drop after it has fallen into a pool of
water, looking from below the pool surface. It could have fallen from your spoon
into a cup of coffee, or been a secondary splash after a raindrop hit a lake. Why
is there such a strong similarity between these two vastly different events? The
application of fundamental principles of fluid mechanics learned in this book
will help you understand much of the answer, although one can go much deeper.
The water has higher density (Chap. 2) than air, so the drop has experienced
negative buoyancy (Chap. 3) as it has fallen through the air before impact. The
fireball of hot gas is less dense than the cool air surrounding it, so it has posi-
tive buoyancy and rises. The shock wave (Chap. 12) reflecting from the ground
also imparts a positive upward force to the fireball. The primary structure at
the top of each image is called a vortex ring. This ring is a mini-tornado of
concentrated vorticity (Chap. 4) with the ends of the tornado looping around
to close on itself. The laws of kinematics (Chap. 4) tell us that this vortex ring
will carry the fluid in a direction toward the top of the page. This is expected in
both cases from the forces applied and the law of conservation of momentum
applied through a control volume analysis (Chap. 5). One could also analyze
this problem with differential analysis (Chaps. 9 and 10) or with computational fluid dynamics (Chap. 15). But why does the shape of the tracer material look
so similar? This occurs if there is approximate geometric and kinematic simi-larity (Chap. 7), and if the flow visualization (Chap. 4) technique is similar.
The passive tracers of heat and dust for the bomb, and fluorescent dye for the
drop, were introduced in a similar manner as noted in the figure caption.
Further knowledge of kinematics and vortex dynamics can help explain
the similarity of the vortex structure in the images to much greater detail, as
discussed by Sigurdson (1997) and Peck and Sigurdson (1994). Look at the
lobes dangling beneath the primary vortex ring, the striations in the “stalk,”
and the ring at the base of each structure. There is also topological similarity
of this structure to other vortex structures occurring in turbulence. Compari-
son of the drop and bomb has given us a better understanding of how turbu-
lent structures are created and evolve. What other secrets of fluid mechanics
are left to be revealed in explaining the similarity between these two flows?
ReferencesPeck, B., and Sigurdson, L.W., “The Three-Dimensional Vortex Structure of an
Impacting Water Drop,” Phys. Fluids, 6(2) (Part 1), p. 564, 1994.
Peck, B., Sigurdson, L.W., Faulkner, B., and Buttar, I., “An Apparatus to Study
Drop-Formed Vortex Rings,” Meas. Sci. Tech., 6, p. 1538, 1995.
Sigurdson, L.W., “Flow Visualization in Turbulent Large-Scale Structure
Research,” Chapter 6 in Atlas of Visualization, Vol. III, Flow Visualization
Society of Japan, eds., CRC Press, pp. 99–113, 1997.
FIGURE 1–54Comparison of the vortex structure
created by: (a) a water drop after
impacting a pool of water (inverted,
from Peck and Sigurdson, 1994), and
(b) an above-ground nuclear test in
Nevada in 1957 (U.S. Department of
Energy). The 2.6 mm drop was dyed
with fluorescent tracer and illuminated
by a strobe flash 50 ms after it had
fallen 35 mm and impacted the clear
pool. The drop was approximately
spherical at the time of impact with
the clear pool of water. Interruption of
a laser beam by the falling drop was
used to trigger a timer that controlled
the time of the strobe flash after impact
of the drop. Details of the careful
experimental procedure necessary to
create the drop photograph are given by
Peck and Sigurdson (1994) and Peck
et al. (1995). The tracers added to the
flow in the bomb case were primarily
heat and dust. The heat is from the orig-
inal fireball which for this particular
test (the “Priscilla” event of Operation
Plumbob) was large enough to reach
the ground from where the bomb was
initially suspended. Therefore, the
tracer’s initial geometric condition
was a sphere intersecting the ground.
(a) From Peck, B., and Sigurdson, L. W., Phys. Fluids, 6(2)(Part 1), 564, 1994. Used by permission of the author.
(b) United States Department of Energy. Photo from Lorenz Sigurdson.
(a) (b)
APPLICATION SPOTLIGHT ■ What Nuclear Blasts and Raindrops Have in Common
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 32001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 32 12/14/12 12:14 PM12/14/12 12:14 PM
CHAPTER 133
PROBLEMS*
Introduction, Classification, and System
1–1C What is a fluid? How does it differ from a solid?
How does a gas differ from a liquid?
1–2C Consider the flow of air over the wings of an aircraft.
Is this flow internal or external? How about the flow of gases
through a jet engine?
1–3C Define incompressible flow and incompressible fluid.
Must the flow of a compressible fluid necessarily be treated
as compressible?
1–4C Define internal, external, and open-channel flows.
1–5C How is the Mach number of a flow defined? What
does a Mach number of 2 indicate?
1–6C When an airplane is flying at a constant speed rela-
tive to the ground, is it correct to say that the Mach number
of this airplane is also constant?
1–7C Consider the flow of air at a Mach number of 0.12.
Should this flow be approximated as being incompressible?
1–8C What is the no-slip condition? What causes it?
1–9C What is forced flow? How does it differ from natural
flow? Is flow caused by winds forced or natural flow?
1–10C What is a boundary layer? What causes a boundary
layer to develop?
1–11C What is the difference between the classical and the
statistical approaches?
1–12C What is a steady-flow process?
1–13C Define stress, normal stress, shear stress, and pressure.
1–14C When analyzing the acceleration of gases as they
flow through a nozzle, what would you choose as your sys-
tem? What type of system is this?
1–15C When is a system a closed system, and when is it a
control volume?
1–16C You are trying to understand how a reciprocating air
compressor (a piston-cylinder device) works. What system
would you use? What type of system is this?
1–17C What are system, surroundings, and boundary?
Mass, Force, and Units1–18C Explain why the light-year has the dimension of length.
1–19C What is the difference between kg-mass and kg-force?
1–20C What is the difference between pound-mass and
pound-force?
1–21C In a news article, it is stated that a recently devel-
oped geared turbofan engine produces 15,000 pounds of
thrust to propel the aircraft forward. Is “pound” mentioned
here lbm or lbf? Explain.
1–22C What is the net force acting on a car cruising at a
constant velocity of 70 km/h (a) on a level road and (b) on
an uphill road?
1–23 A 6-kg plastic tank that has a volume of 0.18 m3 is
filled with liquid water. Assuming the density of water is
1000 kg/m3, determine the weight of the combined system.
1–24 What is the weight, in N, of an object with a mass of
200 kg at a location where g 5 9.6 m/s2?
1–25 What is the weight of a 1-kg substance in N, kN,
kg∙m/s2, kgf, lbm∙ft/s2, and lbf?
1–26 Determine the mass and the weight of the air contained
in a room whose dimensions are 6 m 3 6 m 3 8 m. Assume
the density of the air is 1.16 kg/m3. Answers: 334.1 kg, 3277 N
1–27 While solving a problem, a person ends up with the
equation E 5 16 kJ 1 7 kJ/kg at some stage. Here E is the
total energy and has the unit of kilojoules. Determine how to
correct the error and discuss what may have caused it.
1–28E A 195-lbm astronaut took his bathroom scale
(a spring scale) and a beam scale (compares masses) to the
moon where the local gravity is g 5 5.48 ft/s2. Determine
how much he will weigh (a) on the spring scale and (b) on
the beam scale. Answers: (a) 33.2 lbf, (b) 195 lbf
1–29 The acceleration of high-speed aircraft is sometimes
expressed in g’s (in multiples of the standard acceleration of
gravity). Determine the net force, in N, that a 90-kg man would
experience in an aircraft whose acceleration is 6 g’s.
1–30 A 5-kg rock is thrown upward with a force of
150 N at a location where the local gravitational
acceleration is 9.79 m/s2. Determine the acceleration of the
rock, in m/s2.
1–31 Solve Prob. 1–30 using EES (or other) software.
Print out the entire solution, including the
numerical results with proper units.
1–32 The value of the gravitational acceleration g decreases
with elevation from 9.807 m/s2 at sea level to 9.767 m/s2 at
an altitude of 13,000 m, where large passenger planes cruise.
Determine the percent reduction in the weight of an airplane
cruising at 13,000 m relative to its weight at sea level.
* Problems designated by a “C” are concept questions, and
students are encouraged to answer them all. Problems designated
by an “E” are in English units, and the SI users can ignore them.
Problems with the icon are solved using EES, and complete
solutions together with parametric studies are included on the
text website. Problems with the icon are comprehensive in
nature and are intended to be solved with an equation solver
such as EES.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 33001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 33 12/21/12 1:42 PM12/21/12 1:42 PM
34INTRODUCTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS
1–33 At 45° latitude, the gravitational acceleration as a
function of elevation z above sea level is given by g 5 a 2 bz,
where a 5 9.807 m/s2 and b 5 3.32 3 1026 s22. Determine
the height above sea level where the weight of an object will
decrease by 1 percent. Answer: 29,500 m
1–34 A 4-kW resistance heater in a water heater runs for
2 hours to raise the water temperature to the desired level.
Determine the amount of electric energy used in both kWh
and kJ.
1–35 The gas tank of a car is filled with a nozzle that dis-
charges gasoline at a constant flow rate. Based on unit con-
siderations of quantities, obtain a relation for the filling time
in terms of the volume V of the tank (in L) and the discharge
rate of gasoline (V̇, in L/s).
1–36 A pool of volume V (in m3) is to be filled with water
using a hose of diameter D (in m). If the average discharge
velocity is V (in m/s) and the filling time is t (in s), obtain a
relation for the volume of the pool based on unit consider-
ations of quantities involved.
1–37 Based on unit considerations alone, show that the
power needed to accelerate a car of mass m (in kg) from rest
to velocity V (in m/s) in time interval t (in s) is proportional
to mass and the square of the velocity of the car and inversely
proportional to the time interval.
1–38 An airplane flies horizontally at 70 m/s. Its propel-
ler delivers 1500 N of thrust (forward force) to overcome
aerodynamic drag (backward force). Using dimensional
reasoning and unity converstion ratios, calculate the use-
ful power delivered by the propeller in units of kW and
horsepower.
1–39 If the airplane of Problem 1–38 weighs 1450 lbf, esti-
mate the lift force produced by the airplane’s wings (in lbf
and newtons) when flying at 70.0 m/s.
1–40E The boom of a fire truck raises a fireman (and his
equipment—total weight 280 lbf) 40 ft into the air to fight
a building fire. (a) Showing all your work and using unity
conversion ratios, calculate the work done by the boom on
the fireman in units of Btu. (b) If the useful power supplied
by the boom to lift the fireman is 3.50 hp, estimate how long
it takes to lift the fireman.
1–41 A man goes to a traditional market to buy a steak for
dinner. He finds a 12-oz steak (1 lbm = 16 oz) for $3.15.
He then goes to the adjacent international market and finds a
320-g steak of identical quality for $3.30. Which steak is the
better buy?
1–42 Water at 20°C from a garden hose fills a 2.0 L con-
tainer in 2.85 s. Using unity converstion ratios and showing
all your work, calculate the volume flow rate in liters per
minute (Lpm) and the mass flow rate in kg/s.
1–43 A forklift raises a 90.5 kg crate 1.80 m. (a) Showing
all your work and using unity conversion ratios, calculate the
work done by the forklift on the crane, in units of kJ. (b) If it
takes 12.3 seconds to lift the crate, calculate the useful power
supplied to the crate in kilowatts.
Modeling and Solving Engineering Problems
1–44C When modeling an engineering process, how is the
right choice made between a simple but crude and a com-
plex but accurate model? Is the complex model necessarily a
better choice since it is more accurate?
1–45C What is the difference between the analytical and
experimental approach to engineering problems? Discuss the
advantages and disadvantages of each approach.
1–46C What is the importance of modeling in engineering?
How are the mathematical models for engineering processes
prepared?
1–47C What is the difference between precision and accuracy?
Can a measurement be very precise but inaccurate? Explain.
1–48C How do the differential equations in the study of a
physical problem arise?
1–49C What is the value of the engineering software pack-
ages in (a) engineering education and (b) engineering practice?
1–50 Solve this system of three equations with three
unknowns using EES:
2x 2 y 1 z 5 9
3x2 1 2y 5 z 1 2
xy 1 2z 5 14
1–51 Solve this system of two equations with two
unknowns using EES:
x3 2 y2 5 10.5
3xy 1 y 5 4.6
1–52 Determine a positive real root of this equation
using EES:
3.5x3 2 10x0.5 2 3x 5 24
1–53 Solve this system of three equations with three
unknowns using EES:
x2y 2 z 5 1.5
x 2 3y0.5 1 xz 5 22
x 1 y 2 z 5 4.2
Review Problems
1–54 The reactive force developed by a jet engine to push
an airplane forward is called thrust, and the thrust developed
by the engine of a Boeing 777 is about 85,000 lbf. Express
this thrust in N and kgf.
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 34001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 34 12/21/12 1:42 PM12/21/12 1:42 PM
CHAPTER 135
1–55 The weight of bodies may change somewhat from one
location to another as a result of the variation of the gravita-
tional acceleration g with elevation. Accounting for this varia-
tion using the relation in Prob. 1–33, determine the weight of
an 80.0-kg person at sea level (z 5 0), in Denver (z 5 1610 m),
and on the top of Mount Everest (z 5 8848 m).
1–56E A student buys a 5000 Btu window air conditioner
for his apartment bedroom. He monitors it for one hour on
a hot day and determines that it operates approximately
60 percent of the time (duty cycle 5 60 percent) to keep the
room at nearly constant temperature. (a) Showing all your
work and using unity conversion ratios, calculate the rate of
heat transfer into the bedroom through the walls, windows,
etc. in units of Btu/h and in units of kW. (b) If the energy
efficiency ratio (EER) of the air conditioner is 9.0 and elec-
tricity costs 7.5 cents per kilowatt-hr, calculate how much it
costs (in cents) for him to run the air conditioner for one hour.
1–57 For liquids, the dynamic viscosity m, which is a measure
of resistance against flow is approximated as m 5 a10b/(T2c),
where T is the absolute temperature, and a, b and c are experi-
mental constants. Using the data listed in Table A-7 for metha-
nol at 20ºC, 40ºC and 60ºC, determine the constant a, b and c.
1–58 An important design consideration in two-phase pipe
flow of solid-liquid mixtures is the terminal settling velocity
below, which the flow becomes unstable and eventually the
pipe becomes clogged. On the basis of extended transportation
tests, the terminal settling velocity of a solid particle in the rest
water given by VL 5 FL "2gD 1S 2 1 2 , where FL is an experi-
mental coefficient, g the gravitational acceleration, D the pipe
diameter, and S the specific gravity of solid particle. What is the
dimension of FL? Is this equation dimensionally homogeneous?
1–59 Consider the flow of air through a wind turbine whose
blades sweep an area of diameter D (in m). The average air
velocity through the swept area is V (in m/s). On the bases of
the units of the quantities involved, show that the mass flow
rate of air (in kg/s) through the swept area is proportional to
air density, the wind velocity, and the square of the diameter
of the swept area.
1–60 The drag force exerted on a car by air depends on
a dimensionless drag coefficient, the density of air, the car
velocity, and the frontal area of the car. That is, FD = function
(CDrag, Afront, r, V ). Based on unit considerations alone, obtain
a relation for the drag force.
Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam Problems
1–61 The speed of an aircraft is given to be 260 m/s in air.
If the speed of sound at that location is 330 m/s, the flight of
aircraft is
(a) Sonic (b) Subsonic (c) Supersonic (d) Hypersonic
1–62 The speed of an aircraft is given to be 1250 km/h.
If the speed of sound at that location is 315 m/s, the Mach
number is
(a) 0.5 (b) 0.85 (c) 1.0 (d) 1.10 (e) 1.20
1–63 If mass, heat, and work are not allowed to cross the
boundaries of a system, the system is called
(a) Isolated (b) Isothermal (c) Adiabatic (d) Control mass
(e) Control volume
1–64 The weight of a l0-kg mass at sea level is
(a) 9.81 N (b) 32.2 kgf (c) 98.1 N (d) 10 N (e) l00 N
1–65 The weight of a 1-lbm mass is
(a) 1 lbm∙ft/s2 (b) 9.81 lbf (c) 9.81 N (d) 32.2 lbf (e) 1 lbf
1–66 One kJ is NOT equal to
(a) 1 kPa∙m3 (b) 1 kN∙m (c) 0.001 MJ (d) 1000 J (e) 1 kg∙m2/s2
1–67 Which is a unit for the amount of energy?
(a) Btu/h (b) kWh (c) kcal/h (d) hp (e) kW
1–68 A hydroelectric power plant operates at its rated
power of 7 MW. If the plant has produced 26 million kWh of
electricity in a specified year, the number of hours the plant
has operated that year is
(a) 1125 h (b) 2460 h (c) 2893 h (d) 3714 h (e) 8760 h
Design and Essay Problems
1–69 Write an essay on the various mass- and volume-
measurement devices used throughout history. Also, explain
the development of the modern units for mass and volume.
1–70 Search the Internet to find out how to properly add
or subtract numbers while taking into consideration the num-
ber of significant digits. Write a summary of the proper tech-
nique, then use the technique to solve the following cases: (a)
1.006 1 23.47, (b) 703,200 2 80.4, and (c) 4.6903 2 14.58.
Be careful to express your final answer to the appropriate
number of significant digits.
AirV
AirV
FIGURE P1–60
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 35001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 35 12/21/12 1:42 PM12/21/12 1:42 PM
001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 36001-036_cengel_ch01.indd 36 12/14/12 12:14 PM12/14/12 12:14 PM